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Russia and West have different vision of UN mission to Donbass, German top diplomat says

According to the diplomat, the Europeans can help restore Donbass and take the first steps to lift the sanctions

BERLIN, December 5. /TASS/. Parameters of a United Nations mission to Donbass cannot be agreed because of the gap in Russia’s and the West’s approaches, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Tuesday.

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Ukraine and US seek to recruit UN on Kiev’s side in Donbass conflict, expert says

"So far, we, our allies and Russia have a different vision of this mission," he said, adding that the agreement of the mission’s parameters would be a big progress towards "sustainable truce in eastern Ukraine and heavy weapons withdrawal."

"But the very fact that Russia is ready for that is a big progress as it used to reject such internationalization of the conflict," he noted.

"Our proposal to Russia is clear: after sustainable truce is reached, we, the Europeans, can help restore Donbass and take the first steps to lift the sanctions. It will be the ultimate settlement of the situation in Ukraine and full implementation of the Minsk agreement."

"Anyway, it will be a breakthrough and the beginning of a new policy of d·tente," he stressed.

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