Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who announced his return to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) at the peace talks on Donbas in Minsk, is an "authoritative figure," but the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is important for the settlement in Donbas.
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"Of course, Kuchma is a highly authoritative, experienced figure, versed in this issue. But the principled position of the head of state is important here," Peskov told journalists, answering a question from an UNIAN correspondent in Russia how, in the Kremlin's opinion, Kuchma's return to the Trilateral Contact Group will influence the peaceful resolution of the situation in Donbas.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Kuchma was appointed an official representative of Ukraine to the TCG on February 2, 2015, but early in October 2018 he said he had concluded his mission. Last time when Kuchma took part in the TCG in Minsk was October 2, 2018.
He was replaced by Yevhen Marchuk, who resigned on May 20, 2019, after Zelensky won the presidential elections.
On June 3, Kuchma announced his return to the TCG at the peace talks on Donbas in Minsk.
The next TCG meeting with Kuchma as Ukraine's envoy is scheduled for June 5.
