Volker: By dragging out conflict, Russia wants to involve DPR and LPR in discussion of peacekeeping
The main difficulty in working to resolve the crisis in Donbas is that Russia continues to deny its role in the fighting, stated Kurt Volker, the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, as reported by Voice of America.
“Russia is continuing to deny its own role in this and that it has nothing to do with the separatist governments that it has set up, and that it changes the leaders at will as they did in Luhansk just last month,” Volker said.
According to him, by dragging out the conflict, Russia wants to involve the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) and LPR (Luhansk People’s Republic) in the discussion of peacekeeping.
“When we try to find out if Russia is ready to withdraw its forces and allow peacekeepers to be in the region, Russia says: ‘No. You need to deal with the people from Luhansk and Donetsk,’” the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations said.
Volcker is convinced that such a dialogue with the DPR and LPR “will only legitimize their presence and lead to a prolonged conflict,” he said.
“A peaceful settlement can take place only if the Russian forces and the Russian leadership are removed, the command and control of the militants there are removed,” he said.
As was reported, Volker said that Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Joint Center for Ceasefire Control and Coordination in Donbas is a shame and shows disregard for the attempts to ensure real de-escalation.