10 Dec 2019 10:34

Zelensky calls border provisions of Minsk Agreements loss for Ukraine

KYIV. Dec 10 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky put forth a suggestion at the Normandy Four talks to form a subgroup within the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) in Minsk to facilitate a step-by-step restoration of Ukraine's control over the border.

"I suggested setting up a separate subgroup in Minsk, the sole objective of which would be to facilitate step-by-step [restoration of] control of the Ukrainian border. This step ought to be completed before elections [local elections in the certain districts of Donbas]," Zelensky said at an overnight press briefing in Paris.

The position of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the border issue is in line with the provisions of the Minsk Agreements, he said.

The Minsk Agreement's points relating to the border are disadvantageous for Kyiv, Zelensky said.

"Unfortunately, one of the biggest losses for Ukraine in Minsk is the border, the documents that were signed," he said.