Preparation for the withdrawal of forces and equipment from around the city of Zolote is successfully underway from a technical point of view, but the disengagement cannot begin due to ongoing shelling by the separatists, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodniuk, as cited by Interfax-Ukraine.

“From a technical point of view, the preparation for disengagement in this area has been going quite successfully, but the shelling is not allowing us to start it. I note once again that the …

Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin has some influence on the militants in the Donbas, but cannot ensure the withdrawal of troops, reports TASS.

"We are talking about the settlement within the Ukrainian conflict. The Kremlin, of course, has some influence on the "Republics" of the Donbas, but as you know, the "Republics" of the Donbas are independent entities in the conflict settlement," said Peskov.

Also, the Kremlin continues to claim that Russia "is not …

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko believes that the only reason there has not yet been a Normandy Format summit is that Russia is unwilling.

“Feeling that the pressure is intensifying, that Ukraine is making real steps, Russia is forced to look for more and more new reasons not to hold this meeting. I currently don’t see any interest in the meeting, at least, this meeting is being postponed further and further. At first we heard Putin’s technical inability to come, although the date …