Medvedev: situation around Ukraine crisis, fulfilment of Minsk package remains unstable
MUNICH, February 13. /TASS/. The situation around the conflict in Ukraine and fulfilment of the Minsk package remains unstable, Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said addressing the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
“The Minsk agreements should be observed by all the parties,” he said. “But first of all, the implementation depends on the Kyiv authorities. Despite the progress in some directions, regarding withdrawal of heavy weapons, regarding presence of the OSCE Mission, and other issues, – the situation remains unstable.”
He said Russia is concerned about several aspects regarding settlement of the Ukrainian conflict. First of all, complete ceasefire regime is still not established in Ukraine’s south-east; fire is opened regularly along the line of engagement. Secondly, Ukraine still has not adopted changes to its constitution, nor does it observe the legislation regarding the special status of Donbass. Instead of elements of decentralization, agreed with the regions, they adopt the so-called “transition provisions,” which contradicts the Minsk agreements. Thirdly, he continued, Kyiv still insists the elections in Donbass should be on the basis of the new Ukrainian law without any discussions with the region, Kyiv also ignores its obligations for a wide amnesty of those who participated in the events of 2014-2015.
The Russian prime minister once again said the Ukrainian authorities clearly do not have either will or desire to observe their obligations under the Minsk accords. He said Russia had demonstrated and would continue demonstrating “reasonable flexibility in fulfilment of the Minsk agreements, where it does not contradict with their essence.”
“But we cannot do things for which we are not authorized,” he continued. “Namely: to fulfil for the Kyiv authorities their political and legal obligations. It is a direct competence of the president, government and parliament of Ukraine. Unfortunately, right now they do not have there either will or desire to address it. Today, in my opinion, this becomes evident to everyone.”
Minsk-2 document
On February 12, 2015, members of the trilateral Contact Group on the Ukrainian conflict settlement signed a four-page set of measures to implement the earlier Minsk agreements.
The first point of the document set the condition of an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire due to start from 00:00 hours (Kyiv time) on February 15, 2015. The conflicting parties agreed on the withdrawal of all heavy weapons.
A separate point of the document provided for the release and exchange of all the hostages and illegally held persons based on the “all for all” principle that should be completed on the fifth day after the weapons withdrawal at the latest. The sides also agreed on restoring the Ukrainian side’s control over the state border throughout the conflict zone. Another point of the document provided for the withdrawal of all foreign armed groups and mercenaries from Ukraine’s territory under OSCE supervision; all illegal armed groups should be disarmed.
The set of agreed measures envisaged Ukraine’s constitutional reform with the country’s new constitution talking effect by late 2015. The key element of the new constitution should be power decentralization and the adoption of permanent legislation on the special status of separate districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk districts of Ukraine.