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Developments in eastern Ukraine

OSCE: Russian military will not take part in patrols in eastern Ukraine security zone

Russia's Major-General Alexander Vyaznikov said the Ukrainians and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics should carry out joint patrols as they are the key parties to the conflict

© ITAR-TASS/Yuri Smityuk

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VIENNA, December 25. /TASS/. Russian servicemen will not take part in patrolling the security zone along the disengagement line in eastern Ukraine, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission said in a report referring to Major-General Alexander Vyaznikov, Russian representative to the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination (JCCC).

“Major-General Vyaznikov said that the Russians would not take part in joint patrols, although he added that if the Ukrainian side wanted Russian participation, there should be a formal invitation,” the report said.

"Vyaznikov said the Ukrainians and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics should carry out joint patrols as they are the key parties to the conflict," the report said.

In early October the Joint Center for Control and Coordination started working in Donbas. The JCCC deals with the ceasefire regime and stabilization of the situation with the participation of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE.

The Contact Group said in a statement, “Members of the Contact Group express hope that the center will facilitate further deescalation in Donbas and ensure effective compliance with the existing agreements on ceasefire, withdrawal of armed units and hardware from Ukraine.”

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