Kremlin Not Commenting on Malorossiya State Proposal, Vows to Respect Minsk Deal

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Alexander Zakharchenko, the leader of east Ukraine's self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk (DPR), proposed a three-year transition period toward a new state called Malorossiya ("Little Russia") as a way to settle the conflict in the region. Noting that discussions within the DPR had "come to the conclusion that Ukraine has shown itself as a failed state," he called on the international community to support his proposal.

Russian envoy to the Contact Group on the Ukrainian settlement, Boris Gryzlov, said that the DPR leader's proclamation of a new state called Malorossiya doesn't fit in the Ukrainian reconciliation process as part of the Minsk deal, adding that it "is not a subject of realpolitik."

"For the time being I leave this topic without comments, it needs to be thoroughly analyzed first," Peskov told journalistsin a conference call.

"The Russian side remains committed to the Minsk accords," Peskov stressed, adding that the Kremlin will voice its position on Malorossiya state proposal later.

Following DPR's announcement, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko vowed to restore sovereignty over Donbass.

Germany and France condemned the move with Berlin calling the proposal "absolutely unacceptable" and Paris urging Russia to condemn the DPR's decision.