Self-proclaimed republics in Donbas not to cancel "combat readiness"

The two self-proclaimed republics in Donbas – the "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") and the "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") – are not going to cancel the so-called "combat readiness."

"Steps must be taken to de-escalate, and Donbas insists on discussing and taking additional measures. Before the additional measures are taken, it is difficult to talk about canceling the decisions of Donetsk and Luhansk on combat readiness," Russia's envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Boris Gryzlov said following a TCG video conference on May 27, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported.

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The Russians accused the Ukrainian side of allegedly refusing to discuss additional measures to comply with the ceasefire in Ukraine's east.

It became known on May 20 that the "DPR" and the "LPR" had placed their troops on combat alert. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to this statement during a recent press conference, saying that Ukraine would call an emergency meeting of the TCG.