Ukrainian soldier on the contact line in Donetsk regionPARIS, Jan 26The ceasefire mechanism in Donbass, adopted in July 2020, is the most effective, the involvement of France and Germany in it was not discussed at a meeting of political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy Four in Paris, said Dmitry Kozak, deputy head of the presidential administration of the Russian Federation. A meeting of advisers was held in Paris on Wednesday leaders of the Normandy Four. The Russian delegation at the talks was headed by Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak, the French one — by the diplomatic adviser to the President of France Emmanuel Bonn, the German one — by the foreign policy adviser to the German Chancellor Jens Plötner, and the Ukrainian one — by the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak. In early January, Bonn and Plötner visited Moscow, where they met with Kozak, after which French and German officials went to Kiev and negotiated with Yermak. The last time the Normandy Format advisors met was in September last year via video link. Then the consultations ended in vain.Kozak called the behavior of Ukraine and the United States a military strangulation of Donbass «Practically there was no discussion (involving Germany and France in the mechanism). We must understand that these are some fantastic proposals,» Kozak told reporters. «The mechanism that was in accordance with the agreements, which were achieved on July 22, 2020, when on a bilateral basis the parties promptly respond to all kinds of incidents, shots so that there is no return fire, it is the most effective. And while it has been working for 2.5 months, there have been no skirmishes,» he added he.In the summer of 2020, additional measures to ensure a truce came into force in the Donbass. They imply a complete ban on firing, placing weapons in and near populated areas, offensive and reconnaissance and sabotage operations. In addition, they provide for disciplinary liability for violation of the ceasefire regime. Ceasefire orders containing measures to maintain it must be in effect until the conflict is fully resolved.
