DONETSK/LUHANSK, September 1 (RIA Novosti) – The representatives of the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in southeastern Ukraine published a joint statement Monday demanding that the Kiev government set up a joint commission for a peace settlement.
“The president, the government and the Verkhovna Rada [parliament] of Ukraine must adopt … legal documents guaranteeing the creation of a joint commission to draft the Treaty on peace settlement of the conflict and efforts to rebuild Donbas,” the statement reads.
The two republics declared they would “conduct negotiations together and refuse to hold any separate talks or consultations with the government or the president of Ukraine, or with any other public or international organization or a foreign country.”
They are ready to hold mediated talks with Kiev first, followed by direct negotiations.
Earlier, the two republics called on Kiev to acknowledge their special status. In return, they promised to use maximum efforts to keep Ukraine a unified space.
Southeastern regions of Ukraine have been fighting against the Ukrainian government forces since mid-April when they refused to acknowledge the new government that came to power following the February 22 coup.
Civilian population of the regions has been severely affected by the ongoing military operation, with thousands being killed or injured. Russia has sent a humanitarian convoy to the troubled regions, delivering around 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the suffering civilians and has planned to send more help in the future.
