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LPR expects provocations by Kiev's representatives at Minsk talks

LPR's envoy to the Contact Group's political subgroup Rodion Miroshnik said that at the next meeting of the Contact Group, progress is possible only on certain technical matters

LUGANSK, April 9. /TASS/. Representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic (DPR and LPR) expect Kiev to stage provocations at the next meeting in Minsk, LPR's envoy to the Contact Group's political subgroup Rodion Miroshnik told TASS on Tuesday ahead of the Minsk talks.

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"Unfortunately, we are only expecting political provocations and demarches from Kiev's representatives at this point. Representatives of both Donbass republics and OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] are already used to it," Miroshnik said.

He added that Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko's team has more pressing issues on the agenda as they are "trying to hold on to power." "All sides are waiting for the end of the election campaign in Ukraine. Once after it ends, there is a chance, even though fleeting, to return to searching for constructive agreements," Miroshnik explained.

"At tomorrow's meeting of the Contact Group, progress is possible only on certain technical matters, while reaching agreements on important issues is almost impossible," he said. "Kiev's leading representatives, such as [Kiev's envoy to the Contact Group] Yevgeny Marchuk will most likely be absent while other representatives of Kiev have not likely received any new recommendations or permission to make agreements," he added.

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