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The Ukrainian presidential administration together with U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker defined the steps that should bring a new impetus to the implementation of Minsk Agreements, according to Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Kosytantyn Yeliseiev who spoke to Radio Svoboda.
"Yesterday the presidential administration hosted a meeting where we determined our common steps to bring a new impetus to the Minsk process. Of course, we also talked strategy," Yeliseiev told Radio Svoboda.
"The president also had a short meeting with Volker to encourage him to participate more actively in the Donbas peaceful settlement. I am impressed by his absolute practicality, pragmatism and will to achieve concrete results," Yeliseiev added.
The deputy administration chief also confirmed that Volker's appointment had been lobbied, in particular, by the participants in the Normandy format.
"This is a long-awaited decision that the Ukrainian side has also lobbied in coordination with its partners in the Normandy format," he said.
Read alsoAmerican "hawk" for DonbasOn July 11, U.S. special representative Kurt Volker met Verkhovna Rada deputies and representatives of the Ukrainian side in the political subgroup of the Tripartite Contact Group.
Mr Volker has also discussed the situation in Donbas and approaches toward its settlement with Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman.
Read alsoU.S. Special Envoy Volker lays out vision for UkraineIn addition, the day before, former president of Ukraine and now the country’s representative in the TCG Leonid Kuchma discussed with Kurt Volker the conflict settlement process and agreed on regular meetings.