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Kiev fails to approve OSCE initiative on ‘spring ceasefire’ in Donbass — Russian envoy

Russian envoy to the Contact Group Boris Gryzlov said the initiative on the "spring ceasefire" was supported by the Russian delegation and delegations from the self-proclaimed Donbass republics
Russia's envoy to the Contact Group Boris Gryzlov Alexei Druzhinin/Russian presidential press service/TASS
Russia's envoy to the Contact Group Boris Gryzlov
© Alexei Druzhinin/Russian presidential press service/TASS

MINSK, February 27. /TASS/. Kiev's representatives in the Contact Group for the settlement in eastern Ukraine have refused to approve OSCE’s initiative on a "spring ceasefire" starting March 6, Russia’s envoy to the Contact Group Boris Gryzlov told reporters on Wednesday.

"Kiev is increasing the number of attacks on the line of contact. In this regared, during the session, we considered the OSCE’s initiative on a 'spring ceasefire', which was supported by the Russian delegation and delegations from the [self-proclaimed] Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR). However, the offer to implement additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire regime was rejected by Kiev," he said.

"As a result, the Kiev side has omitted all the details, maintaining only the call for a ceasefire, and postponed the decision on establishing the starting date of the 'spring ceasefire' indefinitely," Gryzlov concluded.

"For a long time, Minsk has remained a platform to resolve humanitarian, economic, social issues of Donbass residents. Currently, in order to serve their pre-election ambitions, the Ukrainian side has blocked the opportunity to resolve even the local problems," Gryzlov noted.

Gryzlov stressed that "the path to regulation is clear, and both sides, Kiev and Donbass, undertook certain obligations." "In February 2015, the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements was signed. At the same time, the Normandy Four leaders signed a declaration in its support. And in the same months, it was approved by the resolution of the UN Security Council," he said.

However, there are statements that claim that Russia "must adhere" to the Minsk accords. "I have to state this once again: both the Minsk agreements and the international documents signed in their support state clearly that Russia is a guarantor, a mediator, and not the conflict party," the Russian envoy continued.

"Unfortunately, the modern system of international law is in a critical and unstable situation. Western politicians, who supported a coup in Kiev and a punitive operation in Donbass are directly responsible for this. In order to escape from this situation, both sides in the intra-Ukrainian conflict must adhere to the Minsk agreements. The international community must urge Kiev to comply with all the obligations stipulated in the Minsk documents," Gryzlov concluded.