Kiev’s rhetoric increasingly shows drive to withdraw from “Minsk-2” - Pasechnik

The Ukrainian government rhetoric is increasingly indicative of Kiev’s wish to withdraw from the Minsk Agreements, Lugansk People’s Republic Head Leonid Pasechnik said in comments on Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba’s statement.

Kuleba said in an interview with a Polish newspaper that Donbass would not be granted special status and that “no Ukrainian region” would be able to veto the state’s decisions.

“The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said today that Donbass would not have special status. One gets the impression that head of this government body Kuleba is absolutely uninterested in politics or speeches by his president,” Pasechnik said. (Ukrainian President Vladimir) “Zelensky keeps saying that although he does not like the Minsk Agreements, he is ready to implement them. It wouldn’t hurt Kuleba to re-read the fundamental document provisions before making such statements.”

“The recent rhetoric of the Ukrainian government increasingly shows Kiev’s wish to withdraw from ‘Minsk',” he added.

Ukraine’s actions aim at escalating the conflict. Zelensky’s decree to increase the size of the army and the regular sending of servicemen, instructors, mercenaries, hardware and weapons that also come from “Ukraine’s western partners,” confirm it,” Pasechnik said.

Ukraine is not interested in peace, he added.

“President Zelensky only needs money tranches and weapons for law-enforcers whom the country is unable to feed or provide for on its own,” the LPR leader said.
He reminded Zelensky that “the People’s Militia is ready for any scenario.”

“At the same time, as all residents of the Lugansk People’s Republic, I’m not losing the hope that you, Vladimir Alexandrovich, will collect yourself, agree to direct talks with the Donbass Republics and end the conflict without causing new large losses to your country. I’m sure my position is shared by millions of those who found themselves on the other side of the river Seversky Donets, who are our brothers and sisters!” Pasechnik said addressing the Ukrainian president.

The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014.  Conflict settlement relies on the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements, signed on February 12, 2015 in the Belorussian capital by the Contact Group members and coordinated by the Normandy Four heads of states (Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine).  The UN Security Council approved the document by Resolution No 2202 of February 17, 2015 and called upon the parties to ensure its implementation.

The document provides for comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal of all heavy weapons from the contact line, starting a dialog on reconstruction of social and economic ties between Kiev and Donbass. It also envisages carrying out constitutional reform in Ukraine providing for decentralization and adopting permanent legislation on a special status of certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. *i*b