Head of separatist LPR says he is ready for negotiations with Kyiv
Acting head of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik said he is ready to enter into direct negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities concerning the settling of the situation in Donbas. He stated this in an interview with a Russian television station, reports 112 Ukraine.
“We don’t know what will happen, but we are ready for a dialogue, we are in favor of a round-table discussion to solve all of the conflicts,” said Pasechnik.
According to him, Kyiv is allegedly evading such a dialogue.
“Unfortunately, as of today, there is no possibility [for direct dialogue] in general, as I understand, and Kyiv is not ready to have such a dialogue,” he said.
Pasechnik added that such a dialogue can only be held in accordance with the Minsk agreements.
In November 2017, Pasechnik replaced Igor Plotnitsky as head of the LPR. Plotnitsky fled to Russia after an open conflict and regime change.
Pasechnik is the former head of the contraband division of the main K department of the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) Directorate in Luhansk. He joined the side of the separatists and became head of the so-called “State Security of LPR.” He has been on the Ukraine's wanted list since January 2015.