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Kiev ready for discussions in Normandy and Minsk formats, Ukraine’s UN envoy claims

Earlier Russia’s Federal Security Service said it has detained a group of Ukrainian saboteurs and prevented a series of terrorist attacks in Crimea plotted by the Ukrainian defense ministry

© Viktor Drachev/TASS

UNITED NATIONS, August 11. /TASS/. Kiev has always been ready for further talks in the Normandy Four format (Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine) and within the Minsk process, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vladimir Yelchenko said on Wednesday.

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He said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement following reports on an exposed attempt to commit a terrorist attack in Crimea by Ukrainian saboteurs that in such conditions it is pointless to hold a Normandy-format summit in September is "dangerous."

Earlier on Wednesday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said it has detained a group of Ukrainian saboteurs and prevented a series of terrorist attacks in Crimea plotted by the Ukrainian defense ministry’s intelligence department and detained. According to the FSB website, vitally important infrastructure facilities were selected at targets of the attacks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described as silly and criminal the Ukrainian special services’ attempt at an act of sabotage in Crimea. In his words, the real purpose was to distract attention from Ukraine’s internal problems. He also said it looks pointless to hold a the Normandy format in such conditions. "Of course, in these circumstances holding a meeting in the Normandy format, the more so in China, is pointless. Apparently, those who once seized power in Kiev and are still retaining it have shifted to terrorist practices instead of searching for compromises,… instead of searching for ways of a peaceful settlement," Putin said.

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"I think the initiative to hold a Normandy Four meeting in September is useful," Yelchenko said, adding that currently there is a pause in the Minsk process, with a next meeting of the working group scheduled for late August. "If we hear the Russian leader saying he sees no point in Normandy-format meetings, it is dangerous," he said.

Apart from that, the Ukrainian diplomat said that Kiev plans to appeal on that matter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and is looking at convening a Security Council meeting. He said he does not rule out Ukraine might get back to the idea of deploying a peacekeeping mission in Donbass or other options of the United Nations presence in that region.

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