Today, at 18.00 on October 30, the Security Working Group will have an extraordinary video conference. DPR Minister of Foreign Affairs Natalya Nikonorova commented on the forthcoming meeting and the expected result.
She noted that our side repeatedly encouraged the group to focus on clarifying the functionality of the coordination mechanism for preventing violations by efforts of the JCCC in its current composition.
“This is due to the fact that the lack of a common understanding of such functionality led to Ukraine’s withdrawal from the agreements on ceasefire enhancement measures effective since July 22, 2020, which has resulted in an escalation of the situation at the line of contact,” Natalya Nikonorova streesed.
She also stated that the only matter of the unscheduled videoconference is to achieve consensus between the parties on the action of the coordination mechanism with the widest possible range of ways to interact. This also includes joint inspections to confirm or deny the facts of violations, and agreement on an updated package of measures to strengthen the ceasefire.
“At the moment, we are indeed witnessing an upward trend in ceasefire violations by the AFU, including the facts that aimed fire is opened on all the fronts, even with the use of prohibited weapons.
In order to prevent such situations, we must use all possible means to promptly agree on a package of measures to strengthen the ceasefire, including detailed parameters for the functioning of the coordination mechanism for the prevention of ceasefire violations by efforts of the JCCC in its current composition, including joint inspections.
We have repeatedly called on the Ukrainian side to intensify the work in this area, but there has been no response. We hope that Kiev’s representatives have finally realized the harmfulness of their withdrawal from the ceasefire strengthening measures of July 22, 2020, and the urgent need to agree on an updated package of measures. We hope that at the upcoming meeting we will still be able to achieve concrete results in this area,” Natalya Nikonorova said.
