“Russia is not complying with the Minsk Agreements”

On Monday, President Petro Poroshenko received Christoph Heusgen and Jacques Audibert, the envoys of German chancellor and French president. This meeting took place in fulfillment of agreements reached during the recent telephone conversation between the leaders of Ukraine, Germany, and France. As noted in a statement on the presidential website, “the parties expressed concern about numerous violations of the ceasefire by militants and impediments to the work of the OSCE.”

It should be noted that the Ukrainian president received in mid-January under rather mysterious circumstances new representative of Russia in the Trilateral Contact Group Boris Gryzlov, who offered to introduce a regime of silence in the conflict zone, even though it is Ukraine that has insisted on it from the very beginning. Still, the ceasefire has not happened, in fact, the talks held in Minsk in mid-January, and then an interview with Russian media, saw Gryzlov reiterating Russia’s mantra of the civil conflict in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the whole world sees it clearly as an act of Russian aggression.

And now, of course, all are wondering what Merkel’s and Hollande’s envoys brought us, especially since it was the two leaders who helped Russia to impose on the Ukrainian side the Kremlin-designed set of measures to implement the September 2014 agreement, known as the Minsk II. The Day turned for answers to MP, deputy chair of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine’s Committee on European Integration Maria Ionova, who met with Heusgen and Audibert as a member of a group of Petro Poroshenko Bloc’s legislators.

“For us, the main topic of discussion was not the Minsk Agreements as such, but rather one party’s failure to comply with them. We talked more about the Russian Federation being the non-compliant party. First, we explained the situation in the Donbas to our guests. We provided them with complete information, in particular, said that after statements made by Russian members of the Contact Group shelling had even intensified. Therefore, we believe that the security situation should be addressed first of all, the humanitarian one should follow, and the withdrawal of Russian troops is the key point for us.

“We made clear to them our concern over the situation regarding members of the OSCE Observation Mission. They should reach the border between Ukraine and Russia, while the Russian troops should leave, taking their Buratinos, Grads, and other armaments with them. For us, it is important that the OSCE mission perform its function, because the world and participants of the Minsk process should receive reliable information.

“Our side stressed that we saw as important the release of not only hostages held in the occupied territories, but also political prisoners held in Russia. We find it strange that while the entire Russian propaganda machine says that we have a civil war, they take Ukrainian citizens to Russia for some reason.

“Of course, we are very concerned about the humanitarian situation in the occupied territories, which involves hindering access of humanitarian missions, like Doctors without Borders. We also told them about the displaced persons’ issues...”

What is the position of the representatives of Germany and France, do they continue to insist on decentralization?

“They understand that the Russian Federation is not complying with its obligations. They did, indeed, talk to us about amendments to the Constitution regarding decentralization.

“As for the special status, including special regime of self-government in certain areas, it is the penultimate provision of the Minsk agreements. This law will not solve the military conflict. But, of course, it will not take effect until the normal security situation comes into being. So, the ball is in the court of the party that does not comply with the agreements, that is, the Russian Federation.

“We have proven to European representatives that Ukraine is a responsible party acting within the framework of international agreements and international rules. We reminded them that we had already voted for the law on the special status in 2014. Thus, Ukraine is the first to fulfill its obligations. We understand that the Minsk Agreements are key for the peace process, so we see timing of their implementation as highly important. Any extension of the Minsk Agreements’ implementation will only benefit Russia. Their implementation is to our advantage, and we have no use for a Minsk III or Minsk IV. The Minsk II agreements must be fulfilled. We support clear deadlines for the Minsk Agreements’ implementation.

“We cannot move to other items until there are adequate safeguards regarding the security situation. That is why we focused on this during the conversation with representatives of the German chancellor and the French president. Even after Gryzlov, who said that the hostages would be released and the ceasefire would be observed, joined the contact group, the Minsk Agreements are still being violated.”

How the West, particularly Germany and France, can influence Russia to comply with the Minsk Agreements?

“They can do it by imposing sanctions and more sanctions. We believe that the West has the tools and mechanisms to exert sufficient pressure on the Russian Federation. We support a diplomatic solution to this issue.

“We believe that everyone has realized the hybrid nature of this war and one nation’s leadership’s penchant for telling brazen lies to other world leaders. Therefore, I think that Western leaders have the mechanisms to make it clear to the aggressor nation that it still must comply with international law, or suffer consequences of its violation.

“Regarding the possible vote on the law on decentralization in the second reading, we have neither received the session’s agenda nor held consultations. Still, we know our duties, and I think that soon we will know the agenda as well. This should be the position not only of factions, but of every legislator too. We see protecting the interests of our country as a matter of principle.”