15:32 15.09.2018

Volker: Russia insists on direct talks with so-called 'people's republics' in Donbas, but it is impossible

1 min read
Volker: Russia insists on direct talks with so-called 'people's republics' in Donbas, but it is impossible

U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker has said that it is impossible to implement all the conditions of Russia in the context of settling the conflict in Donbas, in particular, to hold direct talks with militants.

Russia insists that the peacekeeping mission must be limited only in order to protect the OSCE observers, and not to ensure security in the region, while insisting that negotiations must be conducted directly with the so-called "people's republics" and not with Russia itself. It is impossible to do everything, he said during a briefing on the sidelines of the 15th YES Conference organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Kyiv on Saturday.

Volker also said that Russia continues to insist on the implementation of Ukraine's political conditions of the Minsk process.

He added that there are still gaps in Ukrainian defense capability.

"Now we are prepared to help Ukraine in its efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities," he said, adding that the capabilities have already improved, but there are gaps. The United States is ready to sit down with Ukraine and discuss what needs the country has, he said.

AD
AD
AD
AD
AD