Steffen CotreBERLIN, Feb 11Kiev will no longer be able to lead the West by the nose, negotiations with the Donbass should be started, Steffen Kotre («Alternative for Germany»), a member of the German Bundestag Committee on International Policy, told RIA Novosti, commenting on the results of the meeting of political advisers of the Normandy format, which took place in the German capital on Thursday.Earlier, negotiations were held in Berlin between the political advisers of the Normandy Four (Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany) on the Ukrainian settlement. As the head of the Russian delegation, deputy head of the presidential administration of Russia Dmitry Kozak, told reporters after the meeting, which lasted almost nine hours, Ukraine torpedoed proposals to start negotiations with Donbass, which corresponds to the content of the Minsk package of measures, the final documents were not signed. Further meetings at the ministerial or summit level within the framework of the format were not discussed. A representative of the German Cabinet of Ministers said on Friday that the next meeting of political advisers of the Normandy format is scheduled for March.The US permanent representative to the UN showed ignorance of the details of the Minsk agreements «The West should no longer allow Kiev to lead itself by the nose. Ukraine must now take an important step and implement the Minsk agreements. And it must finally talk with representatives of the regions striving for autonomy,» — Kotre believes. According to the parliamentarian, the positions of the parties are currently quite tough, so «a signal of de-escalation and cooperation is urgently needed.» As such a signal from Germany, «it is proposed to finally launch Nord Stream 2,» Kotret said. He also called for an end to speculation about possible sanctions against the Russian gas pipeline, stressing that «the invasion, which the West is hysterically talking about, is not foreseen.» 
The Foreign Ministry warned of the consequences of the revision of the Minsk agreementsKiev and Western states have recently expressed concern over the alleged increase in «aggressive actions» by Russia near the borders of Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied such accusations, saying that it does not threaten anyone and is not going to attack anyone, and statements about «Russian aggression» are used as an excuse to deploy more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously noted that statements The West about «Russian aggression» and the possibility of helping Kiev defend itself against it is both ridiculous and dangerous. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is moving troops within its territory and at its own discretion. According to him, this does not threaten anyone and should not worry anyone. Referring to the visits of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Kiev and Moscow, which will take place next week, respectively, on February 14 and 15, Kotret said that the head of the German government «should make it clear that Germany and Europe have their own interests, distinct from those of the United States.» At the same time, the parliamentarian believes that Chancellor Scholz is politically «an extremely weak figure.» The current leader of Germany is not ready to take a «clear position» on the pressing problems of Europe, which is confirmed today by the «extremely aggravated situation,» the deputy stressed. Ukraine is again on the hook of the Minsk agreements
