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Minsk Agreements on Donbass settlement remains ‘bulletproof’ paper, Lavrov says

Lavrov reminded that compromises were repeatedly adopted in regards to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, including the so-called Steinmeier formula

MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. Ukraine’s failure to implement the Minsk Agreements under contrived pretext is diplomatically beneficial to Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday, adding that the document remain "completely bulletproof."

"We are interested in keeping the Minsk Agreements on the table. They are approved by the UN Security Council, and they contain agreements that are very difficult to evade," the Minister noted. "If a ‘bulletproof’ document exists, if people seek to justify its non-implementation by ridiculous statements, this is diplomatically beneficial to us."

Lavrov pointed towards the UN Charter, repeatedly violated by the US and its allies.

"Still, no-one suggests that we withdraw from the UN and ‘tear down’ our signature under its Charter," the Minister noted.

Lavrov reminded that compromises were repeatedly adopted in regards to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, including the so-called Steinmeier formula.

"[Kiev] does not fulfill them. Well, that means Donbass will have to live as it does for now," the Foreign Minister said.

He pointed out that, in this situation, life on the ground proceeds ‘as usual.’

"Donbass learned to live in the situation of illegal blockade, which the French and the Germans prefer not to notice. Instead, they accost us, demanding that we open two more checkpoints. But this is not a withdrawal of the blockade! The Minsk Agreements do not mention checkpoints, they mention full unblocking of all economic ties," Lavrov said.

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Ukraine Sergey Lavrov

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