Opinions & Interviews

Experts share Lukashenko’s opinion on USA participation in talks on Ukraine

MINSK, 8 October (BelTA) – The United States needs to join the talks on the settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine, Alexander Vershbow, Distinguished Fellow at the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Atlantic Council, former NATO Deputy Secretary General, said at a high-level plenary session of the Minsk Dialogue Forum, BelTA has learned.

The expert spoke in favor of searching for more stable solutions to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. “I fully agree with President Lukashenko that the United States should take part in the process either as part of a new Normandy format or working (in parallel) with their partners from the Normandy format,” he said.

The topic was discussed at a night owl session of the Minsk Dialogue Forum. According to Alexander Vershbow, a detainee swap and agreements under the Steinmeier Formula can open up a new window of opportunities. “It would be difficult to implement, however if we did not address the security issue,” he added.

Alexander Vershbow expressed hope that the United States and Russia would be able to find a way to preserve the treaty on further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms. The treaty is valid until 2021. The expert believes that the direct extension of the treaty will be insufficient. In his words, it is necessary to conclude parallel agreements taking into account new military technologies.

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