The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine denies accusations voiced by the Russian Federation of allegedly attempting to "disavow the Minsk agreements."
That's according to a statement released in response to the comment by a Russian diplomat over the recent joint statement by Germany and France on the Donbas settlement.
"The assessment by the foreign ministries of Germany and France of the efforts Ukraine is making on the path to consistent implementation of Minsk agreements, including the agreements reached at the level of Normandy Four leaders, caused a storm of emotions, unfounded criticism, and manipulative accusations on the part of the Russian foreign ministry. They do not correspond to reality, being an unsuccessful attempt to justify Russia's further aggressive policy toward Ukraine and the unwillingness of the Russian side to take at least minimal steps to ease the humanitarian situation in the occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions or to facilitate unhindered contacts between Ukrainian citizens on both sides of the contact line," the statement said.
Read alsoUkraine to seize 44 more Russian planes for flights to occupied CrimeaMFA Ukraine categorically denies accusations voiced by the official representative of the Russian foreign ministry regarding the attempts of the Ukrainian side to "disavow the Minsk agreements."
"The draft plan of joint steps of the TCG participants on the implementation of Minsk agreements, which was drafted at the initiative of the chairman of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG, Leonid Kravchuk, and recently submitted for consideration by the Trilateral Contact Group, contains practical proposals for a complete cessation of conflict, demilitarization of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and the creation of conditions for holding local elections in Donbas, which is fully consistent with the spirit and letter of the 2015 Package of Measures to Implement the Minsk Agreements," the statement says.
As for the work of crossing checkpoints, MFA Ukraine noted that the newly created checkpoint "Shchastia" was launched on November 10 this year, where citizens are able to apply to the Administrative Services Center, a bank branch, as well as use a child care room. A service center has been opened at the checkpoint to provide more than 80 services, which will greatly facilitate for Ukrainian citizens living in the temporarily occupied territories the process of solving a number of humanitarian issues.
Also, work continues to improve services for the civilians at the Zolote checkpoint.
"We state that illegal armed groups keep preventing citizens from freely crossing the line of contact. There are restrictions on the free movement of observers with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission," the foreign ministry said.
Read alsoRussia "not in position" to push Ukraine toward own terms of Donbas settlement – EnvoyAt the same time, the ministry assures that Ukraine, with the active participation of Germany and France in the Normandy format of talks, will continue to make maximum efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the conflict and the implementation of the agreements reached within the Normandy format and the TCG.
Background
On November 13, France and Germany called on the Russian Federation to use influence over its proxies to open the checkpoint in Shchastia and Zolote.
