US Embassy building in Kiev. File photoKYIV, Feb. 5U.S. Chargé d'Affaires ai in Ukraine Kristina Quinn said on the air of Savik Shuster's Freedom of Speech program on YouTube that the Minsk agreements could still help resolve the conflict in Donbass, however, she claims that Russia is currently trying to «interpret» the document in an unacceptable way for Ukraine's way. In January, political advisers of the Normandy Four held talks in various compositions, including a meeting in Paris. A new such meeting is expected to take place soon in Berlin. Later, Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said that the Minsk agreements were unfeasible and would lead to the destruction of the country, and a new document was required to be signed. At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine is responsible for the Minsk agreements on Donbass, unfortunately, this is the only format that works. «It seems to me that they (the Minsk agreements — ed.) are not dead. Political representatives recently met in Europe discuss the Minsk agreements. And all the parties were present, all four representatives of the Normandy format. It seems that they said that they would try to have another meeting. Therefore, I would not say that the Minsk agreements are dead. As for me, the Minsk format can still decide conflict in the Donbass.The trick is that the document was written relatively unambiguously.Russia is trying to interpret it in a way unacceptable for Ukraine, and simply undermine the sovereignty of Ukraine.Therefore, for now, Russia demands a certain interpretation of the Minsk agreements, which will not give Ukraine and the central government to be sovereign nation, the conflict cannot be resolved,» she said. Moscow has repeatedly stated la that Kiev does not comply with the Minsk agreements and drags out negotiations to resolve the conflict. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Kiev sent half of the entire personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine to the Donbass. Moscow expressed concern about the transfer of military equipment from NATO countries to the Russian borders and the increase in the number of Western instructors in the Donbass. Western countries continue to provide military support to Ukraine, including by supplying weapons that are used in the Donbass.The United States said that Ukraine should continue on its way to NATOQueen believes that the implementation of the Minsk agreements depends on the Russian Federation. «There are many more negotiations to be held: how to transfer the territory, how to hold elections — all the details from the Minsk agreements. I know that Ukrainians work hard to prepare detailed proposals consistent with the Minsk agreements that preserve the sovereignty of Ukraine, and if the Russian Federation wants to accept and work out the details, we can have a solution that will be consistent with the Minsk agreements. But for this, the Russians must want to resolve the conflict, «- she added. In April 2014, the Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation against the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR, which declared independence after the coup in Kiev in February 2014. According to the latest UN data, about 13 thousand people became victims of the conflict. The issue of resolving the situation in Donbass is discussed, in particular, during the meetings of the contact group. However, even after the ceasefire agreements, skirmishes continue, in the DPR and LPR they announced the shelling of residential areas by Ukrainian heavy artillery. The «Normandy» format of negotiations on Ukraine has existed since June 2014. Then, during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Allied landing in Normandy, the leaders of Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France discussed the settlement of the conflict in Donbass for the first time. The previous summit was held in Paris on December 9, 2019. Recently, the parties at different levels have been discussing the prospects for interaction in this format.
