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Ukraine peace talks need an ‘authorized representative' from Kiev — Luhansk envoy

"As soon as someone has the appropriate credentials, we will talk,” LPR chief negotiator Vladislav Deinego said
Self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic chief negotiator Vladislav Deinego TASS/Stanislav Krasilnikov
Self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic chief negotiator Vladislav Deinego
© TASS/Stanislav Krasilnikov

MOSCOW, January 27. /TASS/. A new round of peace talks on the conflict in Ukraine's east can be held only after Kiev appoints a representative whose credentials are beyond question, the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) chief negotiator said on Tuesday.

“We are waiting for Ukraine to choose an authorized representative. As soon as someone has the appropriate credentials, we will talk,” Vladislav Deinego told TASS.

Asked why former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who earlier joined the talks, could not serve as a representative from Kiev, Deinego said Kuchma still “has not provided any documents confirming his credentials.”

Deinego noted also that Monday’s talks between an envoy of the Kiev government and leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics served as a preparatory meeting ahead of a new meeting of the Contact Group that brings together Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, Igor Plotnitsky, said earlier in the day the meeting between leaders of Luhansk and Donetsk republics and Kiev’s envoy focused on resumption of the Minsk Contact Group’s work and prisoner exchange.

It is yet unclear whether participants in the discussion, which took place in Donetsk, succeeded in finding a compromise on the issues, local media reported.

The Ukrainian side was represented by Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of Ukrainsky Vybor (Ukrainian Choice) public organization, while the two self-proclaimed republics were represented by their respective heads, Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky.

Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Deinego, plenipotentiary representatives of Donetsk and Luhansk republics at the Minsk talks, also attended the Donetsk consultations.