Contents tagged with Volker

  • Volker: Zelensky has chosen a reasonable strategy for Donbas, but there should not be concessions

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s strategy, which avoids calling Russia the “aggressor-state”, makes it possible to avoid accusations against Ukraine from its western allies, said Kurt Volker, former US Special Representative for Ukraine, as cited by Eurointegration.

    According to Volker, the people who question such behavior by the head of state should take into account the progress of international negotiations.

    “Taking them into account, the strategy that Zelensky has chosen is, in …

  • US not planning to appoint special representative for Donbas

    Former US ambassador to Ukraine (2003-2006) John Herbst told Radio NV in an interview that he considers it unlikely that the US will appoint a special representative for the Donbas.

    “Volker is a very talented diplomat… and the fact that he has left is a certain loss. As far as I know, they have decided not to replace him, there will not be a new extraordinary ambassador for this matter – not for Ukraine, but for Donbas affairs,” said Herbst.

    With respect to the appointment of a new US …

  • US Ambassador to Ukraine: Zelensky’s team blames Poroshenko for consequences of war in Donbas

    Former US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker hinted to the Office of the President of Ukraine that they should abandon the idea of prosecuting former president Petro Poroshenko.

    This was learned from the testimony which US Chargé d’Affaires in Kyiv William Taylor gave to Congress, a survey of which was published by Evropeiska Pravda.

    Taylor spoke of a meeting that he and Volker had with President Zelensky’s advisor Andriy Yermak and freelance advisor Ihor Novikov.

    “Ambassador …

  • US representative for Ukraine Volker may be replaced by Ex-CIA officer

    72-year-old former CIA officer Michael Kostiw could replace former US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker, reports UNIAN news agency.

    Kostiw worked for the CIA for ten years, he was also an employee of one of the largest oil and gas companies,Chevron, and since 2011 has served as Vice President of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. And since January 2017 he is also the adviser to the Director of National Intelligence Dan Coates.

    Earlier, media reported that Kostiw …

  • Volker: West willing to help Russia find easy way to withdraw from Ukraine

    US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker told the Ukrainian TV channel 1+1 that Russia is achieving the exact opposite of what it had hoped by continuing its occupation and war in eastern Ukraine.

    Volker emphasized that the members of the Normandy Format and the US are willing to help Russia find an “easy way” to withdraw from the occupied Ukrainian territories.

    “I think that there are reasons why Russia should withdraw from the Donbas. They are actually not interested in keeping the …

  • Volker: No Donbas elections until Russian troops are withdrawn

    US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said that Ukraine’s international partners will not pressurize it to hold elections in the Donbas while there are still Russia-controlled forces in the region.

    “I don’t see a scenario where Ukraine is pushed toward holding elections while the territories remain occupied. The ‘Steinmeier Formula can only be implemented after elections have been held,” Volker told the TV channel 1+1 in an interview.

    He said that in order to hold free and fair …

  • Volker: Crimea sanctions on Russia will remain until ‘de-occupation of peninsula'

    US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said that the sanctions that have been imposed on Russia due to its annexation of Crimea will remain in force until Russia has fully de-occupied the peninsula.

    When asked for his opinion on factoring Crimea out of the peace agreements pertaining to eastern Ukraine, Volker said that it is necessary to differentiate between the sanctions imposed on Russia in connection with Crimea and those relating to the Donbas.

    “First of all, we imposed …

  • Volker: US waiting for Zelensky’s promised reforms

    During a broadcast of the Ukrainian TV Channel Pryamoi , US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said that the US is waiting for Ukraine to form a new government and implement the declared intentions before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Washington.

    “The US government will gladly support the initiatives which Mr Zelensky announced during his election campaign and which are being voiced today, as the government is being formed. These are the promises to continue reforms …

  • Volker: US to hold consultations with Germany and France on Donbas

    US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker said that representatives of the United States, Germany, and France are planning to hold "Normandy format" consultations  at the beginning of next week, reports Voice of America.

    Volker noted that he is in close contact with European partners on this issue.

    The Joint Operation Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on August 10 that one Ukrainian military was killed and another was wounded because of the military activity …

  • US representative for Ukraine Volker requests a meeting with Putin’s aide Surkov

    The U.S. has requested a bilateral meeting between Putin’s aide Surkov and the US representative for Ukraine, Kurt Volker , on the Donbas.

    "The Special Representative of the U.S. State Department for Ukraine Kurt Volker sent a request for a meeting with Russian Presidential Aide Vladislav Surkov," said Aleksey Chesnakov, director of the Center for Current Politics as quoted by Interfax.

    Interfax reported, citing an informed source, that the U.S.  is proposing to hold the meeting between …