Donetsk, Kiev May Agree on Forces Withdrawal in Near Future

DONETSK (Sputnik) — Representatives of Kiev and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) may agree on the withdrawal of forces from the contact line in Donbas in the near future, DPR envoy to the reconciliation talks Denis Pushilin told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Earlier in June, the deputy head of the Ukrainian Administration, Kostiantyn Yelisieiev said there were three areas in Donbas, where the bilateral troops would be withdrawn. The principal deputy chief monitor of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Alexander Hug stated that the withdrawal of forces could begin in the Luhansk region as well.

"Searching for mechanism to stop the armed clashes on the frontline is a relevant issue now. It's not ruled out that it will be the withdrawal [of forces]. We have been holding our positions for a long time already. Ukrainian representatives again came close to us. The negotiating process will be challenging," Pushilin said.

According to the DPR envoy, difficulties may occur because of the Kiev position.

"I'm not saying that we will definitely achieve understanding, as we are dealing with Ukraine. Practice has shown, that Ukraine seriously hinders the negotiation process," he added.

Ukraine launched a military operation in the country's southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the coup in Kiev that toppled then-President Viktor Yanukovich.

In February 2015, a peace agreement was signed between Ukraine’s conflicting sides in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, after talks of the Normandy Four countries. The deal stipulates a full ceasefire, weapons withdrawal from the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, an all-for-all prisoner exchange and constitutional reforms, which would give a special status to the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics.