Loans and visa-free regime for Ukraine can be considered 'advanced fees' for implementation of Minsk Agreements
The billion-dollar loan guarantee received from the United States, as well as the provision of a tranche from the IMF and the promise of a visa-free regime with the EU, can be considered an “advance fee” for Ukraine for the implementation of the political part of the Minsk agreements. This was the opinion expressed by Director of the Ukrainian Institute of Strategies of Global Development and Adaptation (UISGA) Victor Levitsky.
“Many people talked about ‘Putin’s insidious plan’ to make Europe force Ukraine to implement the Minsk-2, and apparently, this strategy is being implemented in front of us,” Levitsky said.
To confirm his words, Levitsky cited French President François Hollande’s commitment to gather the Normandy Four in the coming weeks, as well as the statement by the OSCE representative Martin Sajdik that holding the elections in the Donbas in accordance with the “formula of Steinmeier” (which includes special status for the Donbas, amnesty, etc.) was discussed at the talks in Minsk.
According to Levitsky, the IMF credit, financial guarantees from the United States, Congress’s decision to provide lethal weapons and other “benefits” provided by the United States during Poroshenko’s visit to Washington should be considered a soft “coercion to Minsk.” And, given the tense political situation in the country, Ukraine will very soon have to make difficult political decisions with regard to the Donbas.