Events

22 Aug 2019

Contact group on Ukraine in session in Minsk

MINSK, 21 August (BelTA) – A meeting of the trilateral contact group on resolving the situation in Ukraine’s east is in progress in Minsk, representatives of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BelTA.

Negotiations of subgroups of the contact group have already taken place.

During the meeting held on 31 July the OSCE’s special representative in the trilateral contact group on resolving the situation in Ukraine’s east Martin Sajdik noted that no casualties among civilians had been registered since ceasefire was established on 17 July. The number of ceasefire violations had decreased considerably as well.

During the previous meeting the trilateral contact group primarily focused on repairing a bridge in Stanitsa Luganskaya. The sides reached mutual understanding about concrete steps in this direction. The subgroup on security discussed the separation of forces and assets, in particular, the dismantling of fortifications near Stanitsa Luganskaya.

The trilateral contact group was established on 8 June 2014. Four subgroups were established later to focus on discussing security, political, economic, and humanitarian affairs. The trilateral contact group helped secure the Minsk agreements on 5 September and 19 September 2014 (Minsk 1). During the Normandy format summit (Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine) in Minsk on 12 February 2015 the sides passed a package of measures to fulfill the Minsk agreements (Minsk 2).