The Kremlin to Quit Normandy Format?

Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Russia Dmytro Kozak has decided to stop talks about Donbas at the level of advisers to the heads of the Normandy format states. According to media reports, such views were set out in a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

According to the document, Kozak called such negotiations meaningless and offered to refuse this form of work.

He also considers meaningless the draft document, which is being processed within the framework of the Normandy format.

“I assure you with all responsibility that I do not intend to continue participating in this endless ‘performance’ with a frank imitation of the rampant settlement activities,” the letter tells.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak confirmed the existence of such a letter from Kozak and stated that it is like a delicate diplomatic game when one of the parties of the talks wants to strengthen its position.

According to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, it makes no sense to talk about the termination of negotiations now because work in this direction still goes on. And the fourth day of silence in Donbas is a direct result of the work of the TCG in Minsk and the Normandy format.

“This is a proof to the remarkable effectiveness of the negotiations, despite all the difficulties that arise in the process,” Yermak said.

He added that the Ukrainian delegation is in dialogue. The degree of negotiations may increase or decrease; at the same time, according to Yermak, such letters and their interpretations should be accepted calmly.

Bohdan Marusyak