DPR leader finds it logical to prolong Minsk Agreements to 2017
DONETSK. Dec 15 (Interfax) - The situation on the dividing line in Donbas may be exacerbated at any minute and it would be expedient to prolong the Minsk Agreements to 2017, Alexander Zakharchenko, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said.
"This issue has not been on the agenda yet, but [DPR envoy] Denis Vladimirovich Pushilin has reported on the meetings that are planned for 2017. Bearing in mind what is happening now, it would be logical to prolong the agreements to 2017. The situation that is now unfolding in Minsk and on the dividing line may explode at any minute and therefore this issue may cease to be vital," Zakharchenko told a press conference on Thursday.
The DPR is always ready for provocations by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including during the New Year holidays. "Ukraine likes to go on the offensive during holidays, they have done that on Easter [...] we expect any provocations," he said.
Zakharchenko also said he considers the idea of arming the OSCE mission to be absurd.
The very idea [of arming the OSCE mission] was absolutely absurd, it's quite logical that the OSCE has given up this idea and initially didn't support that [...] The OSCE is only monitoring what is happening and is making it clear that Ukraine needs to talk to us directly," Zakharchenko said.
