The summit of the Normandy Four (Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany) leaders will be held after forces disengage in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske, as well as after the shelling stops, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"When we say that Moscow is setting conditions, you know, a lot of media have been talking about different conditions. We agreed that we should have a summit when we agree on the text of the so-called 'Steinmeier formula' and when we see disengagement in three sectors. At one of the sites, you know, in Stanytsia Luhanska, disengagement has taken place. Now preparations are ongoing for disengagement in Petrivske and Zolote. There has been no disengagement there yet due to ceasefire violations, but I think that everything will take place, and the next step will be the Normandy Four summit," Zelensky told the Segodnya newspaper in a comment.
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"I'm simply unaware of any other information," Zelensky added.
The Normandy Four leaders will discuss, among other things, the law on the special status of Donbas, Zelensky says.
"So far, it has been an understanding within the Minsk process, it had been discussed, and the law had been adopted. That is, the law on special status is now in effect, you know, it had already been adopted. What it will be like – here I'm repeating already, but it's true – we don't know what it will be like, this law on special status. We are ready to discuss these issues in the Normandy format, and we are ready to discuss the terms of this law on special status with the Ukrainian society before we vote on it," the president said.
Zelensky added that the issue of putting a halt to the Donbas war can be resolved through negotiations. "Without a conversation, the issue can't be resolved. Without discussing any conditions, the issue can't be resolved. Without a ceasefire, the issue can't be resolved. Without meetings, the issue can't be resolved. Sitting at home or just talking, or thanks to the media, or due to personal imagination, or just in conversations on talk shows – the issue can't be resolved. The issue is resolved when people talk... When people talk at the highest level! When the Quartet speaks in the Normandy format," the president emphasized.
Earlier, Zelensky said that the Normandy Four summit would be held in November 2019.
