Berlin meeting of experts could prepare ground for Normandy Group's reaction to violation of Minsk accords - DPR
MOSCOW. Aug 18 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic sees possible consultations of experts from France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine (the so-called Normandy Group) over Ukrainian constitutional reform as a forerunner to the reaction by leaders of Russia, France and Germany to Kyiv's failure to honor the political part of the Minsk agreements.
"This is something we are expecting. The situation has reached a deadlock. The guarantor nations understand that they need to react to it somehow. Kiyv is not honoring the Minsk agreements. In all likelihood, in the context of this meeting [its attendees] will talk about preparing the reaction of the heads of state of the Normandy Group," DPR people's council speaker Andrei Purgin told Interfax.
In his view, the possible meeting offers hope of forcing Kyiv to abide by the political part of the Minsk agreements.
"There is a hope, because Kyiv's failure to abide by the Minsk agreements is a direct reputational blow to the leaders of Germany and France. I think they will do everything to save face," Purgin said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that Russia is holding consultations with partners and discussing the possibility of Normandy Group experts meeting in Berlin in the next few days to discuss Ukrainian constitutional reform.