Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, one of Ukraine's envoys to the Trilateral Contact Group for the Donbas settlement in Minsk Oleksiy Reznikov has said Ukraine is ready to discuss the introduction of a peacekeeping mission in Donbas, but the final decision will depend on the Normandy Four leaders (Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany).
"We are considering any ideas – any new options or old ones that have not worked – that today allow us to find a way to restore peace in Ukraine, restore its territorial integrity and ensure its sovereignty. Therefore, the option related to peacekeepers is one of those that is on the table for discussions," he said at a press conference on July 13.
According to Reznikov, it is now incorrect to talk about the timing and prospects of introducing a peacekeeping mission in eastern Ukraine.
The official added that the move depends not only on Ukraine.
"We declare that we are ready to discuss this issue. But how and with what mandate, of course, this issue can only be discussed at the level of at least top leaders of the Normandy Four countries, because it was they that undertook in due time to solve this problem, they gave birth to Minsk [talks], which is a 'child' of the Normandy format," he said.
Reznikov says any decision can be made by just the Normandy Four leaders and with the help of Ukraine's strategic partners – other countries of the European Community, the United States, and Canada.
"Depending on this, there are different formats, including with the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General. So, there is a mechanism for a diplomatic way to solve this problem," he said.
Reznikov says that great hope rests with diplomats, in particular foreign ministers.
