Poroshenko calls recent talks in "Normandy format" positive

10:15, 27.07.2015 1 min read

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the recent negotiations in the "Normandy format" have brought certain progress in the context of the settlement of the situation in Donbas.

"The negotiations in the 'Normandy format' are never easy, but I can say that certain progress has been achieved at this stage," the president said in an interview with STB channel on Saturday evening.

Poroshenko said Ukraine insists that the ceasefire regime should be observed in the first place. "And because we have no confidence that the obligations will be fulfilled, we have ensured the adoption and support of Ukraine's proposal that we have to withdraw from the engagement line artillery of less than 100 mm caliber, mortars and tanks, which were mainly used to open fire on Ukrainian positions," Poroshenko said.

Poroshenko said the weapons are to be withdrawn by 15 km and with the OSCE mission's monitoring.

The president said ten to 15 permanent OSCE observation points are to be placed along the engagement line to monitor the observance of this obligation in cooperation with mobile groups.