Ukrainian MP: Resolution on UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas may be prepared by end of 2017
A UN Security Council resolution on a peacekeeping mission in the Donbas may be drawn up by the end of 2017, Ukrainian MP from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc Volodymyr Ariev wrote on Facebook after the meeting of parliamentarians with Kurt Volker, the US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine.
According to Ariev, the major points of the resolution will be drawn up by Volker himself.
In Volker’s opinion, “the blue helmets must control the entire territory, including the border, and have access to the locations of heavy equipment”.
The US representative also believes that Russia is seriously displeased by the law on the reintegration of the Donbas, in which Moscow is called the aggressor, and that “Ukraine is the only party to demonstrate a desire to comply with the Minsk agreements. No matter how anyone feels about these agreements, this is still the only process recognized by Russia which will make it possible to avoid an escalation”.
Volker also told the MPs that there is currently “an impression that Putin has changed the approach from purely military, and is now striving to acquire Ukrainian leadership which is friendly towards him”.
The US State Department special representative believes that Obama was wrong not to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, listing at least three factors which demonstrate that it would be possible to provide weapons to Ukraine. “However, this is a political process, and he is a diplomat,” Volker commented.
Volker met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko earlier.