Kyiv wants Russia to be 'more consistent' in Trilateral Contact Group
KYIV. April 28 (Interfax) - Russia is entitled to replace its representative to the Trilateral Contact Group promoting peace in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
"It is a right of Russia to appoint whichever person it thinks necessary. But there is another thing I would like to emphasize: there is no 'contact group', there is the Trilateral Contact Group, and it is strange that the decree of the Russian president mentions an incorrect name of this interaction mechanism. This is an absolutely essential matter; this is the Trilateral Contact Group comprising of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE. In my opinion, such manipulations with names are totally unconstructive," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebiynis told the television channel 112 on Tuesday.
Ukraine wants the soonest possible formation of working groups at the Trilateral Contact Group, the spokesman said. "We have put forward proposals regarding Ukrainian representatives to act on behalf of our state in such subgroups. We think that priorities should be the following: the fulfillment of security tasks, the creation of working groups, preparations for local elections, the 'all for all' exchange of hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid consistent with the Ukrainian legislation and international standards," he said.
"Hopefully, Russia's position in the Trilateral Contact Group will be more consistent and more constructive so that we are able to achieve results," he added.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier that the appointment of diplomat Azamat Kulmukhametov as Russian special representative to the Contact Group for Ukraine aimed to raise the level of Russia's representation at those negotiations.