KIEV, July 10 (RIA Novosti) – Kiev does not exclude the possibility of establishing contacts with independence supporters via videoconferencing without mediators, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said at a press conference Thursday.
“He [leader of the Ukrainian Choice civil organization Viktor Medvedchuk] contributed to the contacts but he is not a representative of Ukraine; Leonid Kuchma is the representative of Ukraine. But in further contacts, the contacts onsite, other mediators could be present, I don’t know whether it will be Medvedchuk or somebody else, or maybe there will be no further need for mediators. If we start real communication, at least in the format of videoconferencing, and then real communication, then why do we need mediators?” Klimkin said.
Two rounds of trilateral talks between the representatives of people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk with Kiev officials were held in June, when a contact group, including Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov, two OSCE officials and former Ukrainian President Mikhail Kuchma, met to discuss possible de-escalation of situation in Donbas.
On July 1, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced the end of a ceasefire in the southeast of the country. Soon after that, government troops opened artillery fire on Slaviansk and Kramatorsk, saying there will be no peace talks until independence supporters lay down their arms.
Kiev has launched a military operation in the southeastern regions of Ukraine that protested against the February regime change. Moscow has repeatedly condemned the move, which led to numerous casualties, urging the establishment of a nationwide dialogue.
