The State Department turned Ukraine 180 degrees
The United States believes that in the Donbass there are no conditions for the implementation of the Steinmeier formula, according to which the LPR and DPR must hold elections and receive special status.
Special Representative of the US State Department Kurt Volker stated this on the 1+1 TV channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“I often communicate with my French and German colleagues and I know that they do not see opportunities for local elections in an environment that is still controlled by Russian forces. Secondly, I had a conversation with my Ukrainian colleagues, and they understand this too. I don’t see a scenario that Ukraine will be pushed to hold elections while the territories remain occupied.
The implementation of the Steinmeier formula is possible only after the elections take place. And this is what has been discussed in the Normandy format for years. This is that on election day this special status for the occupied territories will only have provisional force, if the elections are recognized by the OSCE as free and fair, then the special status will become permanent.
In order for elections to be fair and free, a free, calm and safe environment is needed. So safety comes first. And so far we have not seen Russia agree to this or do anything about it. I think that everyone should say: “OK, the time has come for the formula to work,” but to get there, Russia needs to withdraw its troops.
Illegal armed groups supported by Russia must be disbanded. Peacekeepers must be introduced to create stability or restore stability in another way, in order to introduce the Minsk agreements. The Steinmeier formula, it starts with elections, but first we have to get to that point,” Volcker said.
Volcker's visit to Kyiv radically changed the position of the Ukrainian leadership. Thus, earlier the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Vadim Prystaiko announced the possibility of holding elections in the LDPR simultaneously with local elections in Ukraine, but after the meeting with Volker he changed his position, advisor to the head of the LPR Rodion Miroshnik notes in his blog.
“Prystaiko on Friday and Prystaiko on Saturday are two different beliefs. It’s just that on Friday he was without Volker. On Friday, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister almost already scheduled elections in the LDPR for April along with the rest of Ukraine, but Volker arrived and everything changed. And judging by the rhetoric, Zelensky has nothing to go to the Normandy format with: the Steinmeier formula is not accepted under any circumstances, as is special status, along with changes to the constitution, amnesty - there too.
And the possibility of inviting a peacekeeping mission, even after Ze’s statement that “we don’t need one,” sparkled with new colors with Volker’s arrival! This is how great the power of American persuasion is and how inviolable the Ukrainian position is. First we promise, then we cancel,” writes Miroshnik.
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