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Kiev’s suspension of transport links with Donbass violates Minsk deal — Russian envoy

The Kiev authorities’ inability to fight against the outrage of nationalists affects Ukraine itself, Russia’s envoy to the Contact Group for settling the crisis in eastern Ukraine noted

MINSK, March 15. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko’s decision to suspend transport services with the self-proclaimed republics in Donbass runs counter to the Minsk peace deal, Russia’s envoy to the Contact Group for settling the crisis in eastern Ukraine, Boris Gryzlov, said.

"The Kiev authorities’ inability to fight against the outrage of nationalists affects Ukraine itself. This is especially dangerous as the tendency is confirmed by other steps of officials," Gryzlov said.

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Kiev suspends all transport links with Donbass

Gryzlov stressed that the latest decision of Poroshenko on suspending transport links with Donbass, announced at the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on Wednesday, "runs counter to the Minsk agreements" that outlined a clear plan to resolve the crisis.

The envoy also said that "instead of restoring the financial system in Donbass, in line with the Minsk agreements, the Ukrainian authorities are destroying their own banking system."

At an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council held on Wednesday, Ukraine’s politicians decided to suspend all transport links with the territories of Donbass uncontrolled by Kiev. The ban will be in effect until points 1 and 2 (ensuring ceasefire and withdrawing weapons) of the February 2015 Minsk peace deal are implemented and the seized enterprises return to Ukraine’s jurisdiction, the council’s head, Alexander Turchinov, said.

Ukraine will block all highways and railroads to the Donbass region by 2 p.m. Moscow Time (1100GMT) on Wednesday, he added.

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