Lavrov: Normandy format negotiations might be no more than 'a meeting for the sake of meeting'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not rule out Russia’s participation in the meeting of the Normandy Four that will take place on November 29. He noted that this meeting should not be just “a meeting for the sake of meeting.”
“I don’t think that we will be able to agree on all points by November 29 although we will do everything possible for it. However, there is still a serious risk that this meeting will be held again just for the sake of meeting. Anyway, if my colleagues in the Normandy format are ready to take such a risk we will go to Berlin on November 29,” the minister said as quoted by Russia's TASS news agency.
According to TASS, Lavrov’s position is that Russia faces attempts to depart from agreed terms in Berlin regarding the road map project for the Donbas. He reiterated that the leaders of the Normandy Four during the previous meeting defined guiding principles for working on the road map. “During the work on the road map project, Russian representatives strictly adhered to these principles but nevertheless we face attempts to depart from these understandings and to promote unilateral approaches.” Lavrov stated
Earlier, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa confirmed that Ukrainian foreign minister would participate in the Normandy Four meeting. According to her, technical experts are now holding consultations regarding “the road map.”