Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova officially thanked Leonid Kuchma for his work in the Minsk Contact Group as a representative of Ukraine, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“He is a direct participant in the development and signing of not only the Minsk agreements themselves, but also the entire complex of agreements reached in their development, agreed upon in the contact group. Despite the well-known political difficulties and costs, Mr. Kuchma has always demonstrated his commitment to the Minsk agreements and firmly advocated for their full and speedy implementation. He participated in negotiations, where representatives of Donetsk and Lugansk were present, and demonstrated a responsible approach. This is rare for the current political regime in Ukraine,” Zakharova said.
According to her, Kuchma's departure from the contact group could affect the prospects of the negotiation process.
“Unfortunately, recent positions indicate that today the Minsk agreements are more likely not a goal, but a tool in the hands of the Kyiv authorities during the launched election campaign, which is manifesting itself in the wildest forms. Every now and then voices are heard about the need for Ukraine to withdraw from the Minsk process, right up to statements at the highest level. This largely explains a number of deadlocks at the negotiations in Minsk. Overcoming them is only possible if there is a certain political will and a real desire to end the conflict in Donbass,” Zakharova said.