6 Dec 2017 17:56

New truce with Kyiv needed before holidays - DPR

DONETSK. Dec 6 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) plans to address the issue of a new truce for the New Year holidays, DPR special envoy Denis Pushilin said.

"There is a need to talk about a ceasefire regime, there are plans to discuss another truce [before the New Year and Christmas holidays], but not all the sides, in particular Ukraine, are fulfilling the obligations they have taken up," Pushilin told reporters.

To maintain the truce in Donbas, the sides agreed to publicize the ceasefire orders and discipline its violators, he said.

"The last meeting focused on this, and the final meeting this year, on December 20, will insist on this, too. It is necessary to work on more mechanisms to implement the regime of ceasefire and monitoring whether or not the ceasefire regime is being observed. And in this regard, new opportunities and mechanisms certainly need to be found," Pushilin said.

The Minsk Agreements will probably be extended next year, he also said, "given that the political provisions of the Minsk Agreements are not implemented, and unfortunately, we also see no progress on other sets of issues from the Package of Measures. On the one hand, the Minsk Agreements are not fulfilled, but, on the other hand, no one is withdrawing from this process, and we see the automatic prolongation of the agreements," Pushilin said.