US May Hinder Breakthrough of Ukraine Reconciliation Talks in Moscow

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are expected to propose a revised document on Ukrainian reconciliation after Moscow talks, but Washington's interference could hinder the talks, experts told RIA Novosti Friday.

According to media reports, Hollande and Merkel will propose a revised Minsk protocol to Russian President Vladimir Putin after meeting on Ukraine reconciliation in Moscow on Friday. Several points of the document will be edited.

Deputy Director of the CIS Institute Vladimir Zharikhin argues that the agreements might be hindered, if Hollande and Merkel have not coordinated their actions with Washington in advance.

“I hope for a positive outcome of the upcoming meeting, but unfortunately some skepticism remains: US State Secretary John Kerry from one side and Hollande with Merkel on another, [moving] on parallel, noncrossing roads in Kiev,” Zharikhin said.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in the capital of Ukraine amid reports that Washington is considering supplying lethal aid to Kiev authorities.

“We remember […] last year’s situation well, when, after the signing […] a compromise agreement with Viktor Yanukovych in presence of all the European states leaders, the situation was turned upside down with the US help,” he added.

Meanwhile, another expert claimed that in order for a new document to be effective, the Minsk agreements would have to be thoroughly revised.

“I think that the Minsk agreements are not relevant any longer. It is clear that there should be new ones. If the document would be based on the existing agreements, they should be thouroughly edited,” Director of the International Institute of the Newly Established States Alexei Martynov told RIA Novosti.

Martynov said that the new document might be similar to the one signed by breakaway region Transnistria, when it separated from Moldova, and would stipulate the OSCE peacekeeping operation, the region’s autonomy and the location of borders.

However, Martynov added that Ukraine might not agree with the OSCE peacekeeping mission deployment, and may prefer UN peacekeepers instead.

“Ukrainian authorities think that this way the United States will have more chances to affect the situation,” he explained.

The military confrontation between Kiev forces and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine began in April 2014 and recently intensified, despite a ceasefire agreement reached between the warring sides during peace talks in Minsk, Belarus, in September 2014.