KIEV (Sputnik) — Volker’s appointment to his current capacity was promoted by the members of the Normandy Four group that includes Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine, the Ukrainian official noted.
"There was a meeting in the presidential administration. We decided upon our joint steps to give new impulse to the Minsk process. Of course, we talked about strategy as well … The president also had a short meeting with Volker to encourage him to take more active part in the Donbas [Donbass] peace settlement. I am pleased with his total pragmatism and desire to reach definite results," Yelisieiev said during an interview for the Radio Free Europe.
The United States does not participate in the Normandy format of Ukraine peace talks.
Volker, appointed last week as US special representative for Ukraine, arrived in Kiev on July 9. He has already held several meetings with Ukrainian officials, including Ukraine’s representative in Trilateral Contact Group Leonid Kuchma.
A ceasefire and a package of war alleviation measures was agreed in February 2015 in Minsk by Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. The deal is being overseen by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
