"The Kiev government has not made a single step to conduct national dialogue, constitutional reforms with the participation of all groups and regions. Kiev is doing everything so that in essence the South East is isolated," Vitaly Churkin said Wednesday.
According to Churkin, Kiev representatives did not attend the Minsk contact group meeting on January 16. "The representatives of Ukraine did not appear in the Belorussian capital," he added.
Churkin assured that Russia was ensuring compliance with the Minsk agreement to settle the Ukrainian crisis. "We are in contact with sides, the leadership of Ukraine and the rebels and representatives of interested for countries including in the Normandy Format," Churkin said.
On September 5, 2014, the Ukrainian independence supporters and Kiev managed to reach a ceasefire agreement with mediation from Russia and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The provisions for the ceasefire implementation were agreed on during the September 19, 2014 Minsk talks. The two warring sides have since accused each other of violating the truce.
Another Minsk meeting was to take place on January 16, yet Kiev representatives failed to show up, envoy of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic said.