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Minsk talks show Kiev determined to hold constructive dialogue — DPR envoy

On September 21, the Contact Group signed a framework agreement on disengaging the warring parties in Donbass
DPR chief negotiator Denis Pushilin Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS
DPR chief negotiator Denis Pushilin
© Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

MOSCOW, September 22. /TASS/. The Ukrainian side proved at the meeting of the Contact Group in Minsk on Wednesday that it is determined to hold a constructive dialogue, envoy of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic to the talks Denis Pushilin has said.

"At the latest meeting we saw the completely new representatives of the security subgroup - it’s more right to say the representatives were the same, but they were determined to be constructive," Pushilin told the Rossiya 24 TV channel. "In fact, the document (on disengaging forces on the contact line in Donbass) was agreed very quickly and then signed."

Pushilin reminded that "three pilot areas" on disengaging the sides have been approved, adding that if everything is implemented successfully the number of such areas will increase.

Deal on disengaging forces

On September 21, the participants of the Contact Group on settlement in eastern Ukraine signed a framework agreement on disengaging the warring parties in Donbass. The discussion on the document had lasted for three months.

The Contact Group agreed on the principles and a timeframe for disengaging forces of Kiev and militias in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

The creation of three security zones envisages that the disengagement of forces should be carried out in each of them "not less than 2 km in width and 2 km in depth." The condition for beginning the disengagement of forces is the confirmation by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission of the full compliance with the ceasefire regime for seven days in each area.

The entire process of disengaging forces and means, including the preparations for it, should last for no more than 30 days for each area. The military withdrawal, monitored by the OSCE SMM, is due to be completed within three days.