Donetsk, Dec 18 – DAN. Russian withdrawal from the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination of the ceasefire will have negative effect on security communication with Kiev, said DPR envoy to the Minsk negotiations Denis Pushilin.
"Russia was compelled to take the decision (to withdraw from the JCCC), it will cause no positive change in the conflict settlement process. Moreover, I expect the degradation of communication concerning the most important issue - security, including the issues of observing ceasefire and containing fire."
Pushilin said that Donetsk representation in the JCCC is willing to continue their job on providing security guarantees, control and coordination of the situation along the contact line within the framework of the Minsk Agreements.
Earlier in the day, the Foreign Ministry of Russia said that Russian representation in the JCCC was no longer possible due to Kiev's actions. The ministry said Russian officers would leave Donbass on December 19.
The JCCC was established to monitor the implementation of commitments to fulfill the Minsk Agreements; to facilitate interaction between the conflicting sides; to interact with the OSCE SMM; to solve disputes concerning the implementation of the Minsk Agreements and facilitate their fulfillment; to participate in the negotiations over the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. *ot