All news

Restoring railroad infrastructure to have positive effect on economic situation in Donbas

Сhairperson of DPR people’s committee on budget, finances and economic policy expressed hope that Kiev will take part in financing the demining and restoration of the part of the railroad

MOSCOW, August 6. /TASS/. Restoration of Nikitovka-Mayorsk part of the Donetsk railroad located near the contact line near Gorlovka will have a positive effect on the economic situation in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), chairperson of DPR people’s committee on budget, finances and economic policy Marina Zheynova said on Thursday.

"To transport cargoes by trucks, it is necessary to go through many checkpoints. Also, the volume of cargoes transported by railroad is significantly bigger. These difficulties will be removed right away. Goods, both food and non-food, will start flowing, and passenger transport will be improved. This is a very good thing," Donetsk News Agency quoted Zheynova as saying.

Zheynova also expressed hope that Ukraine will take part in financing the demining and restoration of the aforementioned part of the railroad.

Contact Group’s sub-group on economic issues discussed prospects of demining and restoring the Nikitovka-Mayorsk part of the Donetsk railroad at a meeting on August 3 in Minsk. OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Ukraine) Special Representative in Ukraine Martin Sajdik said that the schedule for demining and restoring railroad infrastructure will be developed next week. He added that all works will be carried out with participation of all sides, included the Donetsk railroad.

The meetings of the Contact Group on settlement of the situation in Ukraine and sub-groups started on August 3 and continued into the night. However, the sides failed to reach an agreement on one of the most pressing issues - signing the document on gradual withdrawal of tanks, armored personnel carriers and weaponry of less than 100mm caliber from the contact line. The sub-group continue negotiations on Tuesday but no final deal was made.

The self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) envoy to Contact Group Vladislav Deinego said that the sub-group will present two versions of the document on weaponry withdrawal at the next meeting of the Contact Group on August 26. One version will outline disagreements on separate points of the document coordinated by the Contact Group. The second version will state Ukraine’s position "after it refused the coordinated version."