Ukraine: Ineffective Negotiations

• 08.06.2015, 09:51
•  World

The Contact Group meeting in Minsk on August 3 that aimed at normalizing the situation in Eastern Ukraine can be considered quite ineffective. The parties again failed to agree upon any of the key points of the agreement.

Many people were waiting for the results of the Contact Group meeting, especially for the agreement on drawing back all the equipment of the small diameter of 100 mm. But the text of an agreement did not satisfy Kiev, and its delegation left the discussions. Kiev also continues to refuse to withdraw its forces from Shirokina, where a security zone is intended to be created, while Donetsk withdrew its troops from the region in early July.

However, the 30-km safety zone is opposed to be created not only in Kiev but in Donetsk as well. Hundreds of people here are protesting against the demilitarization of Shirokina. According to them, the Contact Group's proposed 30-kilometer buffer zone threatens the security of the city.

The political subgroup’s activities are even less optimistic. As the representative of Donbass region said, there is absolutely no consensus on the review of the political status of the region. Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has already sent to the Supreme Rada the initial version of the constitutional amendments intended by Minsk arrangements. According to it in certain parts of Donetsk and Lugansk the specificities of self-governing bodies will be determined by a separate law, while the powers of all the regional authorities of Ukraine will be extended. However, this version of the constitutional amendments is not accepted by Donetsk and Lugansk, which believe that this proposal does not meet Minsk agreements on the Donbass special status.

Contact Group will meet to discuss these issues again in late August, and until then will continue its work in subgroups.

On the background of the failure of diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, the situation remains tense here. The two sides continue to accuse each other for violating the ceasefire. It seems that the success of the initial phase of the peace process is at a deadlock. There are some provisions left to be implemented by the Minsk agreements, most of which cause deep disagreements between the parties.