Russia has brought the Minsk and Normandy negotiating formats to a standstill – the EU

Photo Ukrinform

The negotiation process in the Tripartite Contact Group and in the Normandy format has stalled due to Russia’s refusal to recognize itself as a party to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

This is stated in an EU statement issued at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Russia’s refusal to act responsibly as a party to the conflict, through constructive participation in the Trilateral Contact Group negotiations, as well as the obstruction of the next meeting in the Normandy format, leads to a stalemate in these negotiating formats,” the statement said.

The EU recalls that two years have passed since the last Normandy Summit, at which a document entitled “General Agreed Conclusions” was signed.

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“We regret that most of the measures agreed upon at that time have not yet been implemented, although agreements at the technical level have been reached in the working groups of the Tripartite Contact Group. However, they remain blocked at the political level” the European Union said.

The EU is concerned about the deteriorating security situation in eastern Ukraine, in particular due to Russia’s increase in military forces near the border.

“Any threatening or destabilizing behavior is unacceptable. We call on Russia to adhere to the existing mechanisms within the framework of the Vienna Document on Transparency of Displacement and to de-escalate tensions” the EU stressed.

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