Contents tagged with Donbas
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Russia to urge Ukraine to start direct negotiations with LPR and DPR at Normandy summit
At the Normandy summit in Paris on December 9, Russia intends to urge Ukraine to begin direct dialog with the ringleaders of the Russia-backed separatist armed groups, the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, which occupy parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
“We heard from the previous administration in Ukraine, from the previous regime, statements that they will never negotiate directly with Donetsk and Luhansk, we …
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Ukrainian and Estonian presidents call on Russia to withdraw from Crimea and Donbas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid signed a joint statement on cooperation, in which Estonia reaffirms its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine with Crimea and the Donbas, reports the press service of the Ukrainian President.
"The presidents reiterated their firm commitment to international law and the basic principles of international relations. They called on the Russian Federation to cancel the illegal occupation of …
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Ukrainian intelligence agent was elected ‘people’s mayor’ of separatists-held Horlivka
Eduard Matyukha, an employee of Ukraine’s Chief Intelligence Directorate, has returned to Kyiv after operating in the Donbas for more than five years.
At one point, he was even the “people’s mayor” of Horlivka which is controlled by pro-Russian militants, and he later held senior positions in the Communist Party of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), TSN reports.
Matyukha said that he spent five years in Horlivka without his family. His wife knew nothing about her husband’s …
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Kyiv is ready for 'reasonable compromise' on Donbas
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said that the Ukrainian side expects real progress in settlement of the conflict in the Donbas after the Normandy Four meeting.
During a joint briefing with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Kyiv, Prystaiko said that "We [Ukraine] hope that at this meeting we will achieve the real progress that we have expected since at least 2016, when the last Normandy Four meeting was held."
Prystaiko said that the Ukrainian delegation will go to the Normandy …
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Ukrainian film director Sentsov: EU could take stronger measures against Putin
During a press conference in Spain, Ukrainian film director and former political prisoner Oleh Sentsov said that the European Union could take stronger measures against Putin and confront him harder, reports Ukrinform news agency.
"[European] countries continue to buy Russian gas and oil, and because of that, Putin is still in power and does what he wants," said Sentsov.
Sentsov is participating in the events organized by the Bureau of the European Parliament in Barcelona. Together with the …
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Macron and Putin discuss Donbas 'special status' during phone call
French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Presidents discussed the situation in Ukraine in advance of the Normandy Four Summit, which is scheduled for December 9 in Paris, reports the Kremlin's press service.
Macron and Putin noted that "holding such a meeting should contribute to the quick and full implementation of the Minsk agreements."
"In this context, the importance of Kyiv to fulfill its obligations on the political …
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Girkin considers extradition and indictment in MH17 case possible in light of new phone call evidence
Igor “Strelkov” Girkin, former “defense minister” of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), has admitted that the investigators of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 catastrophe have intercepted a phone call from 2014 between him and then “prime minister” of the DPR Alexander Borodai. Girkin published his reaction to the recording on VKontakte, a Russian social network.
The Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) report mentions an intercepted phone call from August 13, 2014, in which …
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Russia intends to discuss Donbas special status at next Normandy Four meeting
During the upcoming Normandy Four Summit on December 9 in Paris, the special status of the territories controlled by the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics, with its inclusion in the Constitution of Ukraine, will be discussed, reports Kommersant, citing its source in Russian government. Other topics would involve security issues, amnesty, and elections.
Security issues are related to the further withdrawal of forces and equipment in other areas of the demarcation line in the Donbas. …
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Putin: Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics will respond if Ukrainian Forces move back to the disengagement areas in Donbas
During a press conference at the BRICS Summit in Brazil, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if Ukrainian Police and the National Guard enter the withdrawal areas, then militants of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) will respond to these actions.
Putin welcomed the withdrawal of troops in Zolote and Petrovske areas but stressed that there are "some ambiguities."
"We see the statements of Ukrainian officials that the Ukrainian police and the National Guard can return …
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Putin: we have 'full contact' with Zelensky
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he has full contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reports TASS news agency.
"We are in contact with him [Zelensky], we talk on the phone. We have full contact," said Putin, adding that it is essential to achieve results after negotiations on the Donbas.
At the same time, the Putin said that he agrees with the position of the former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev that the solution of problems, including the armed conflict …