Russia expresses readiness to revive Ukraine peace talks with preconditions

Russia has expressed willingness to participate in a four-way summit in the French capital aimed at reviving the Ukrainian peace process with some preconditions, including pull back of warring forces.

“We believe that such a meeting should take place and we agree that it can be held in Paris, as proposed by French President (Emmanuel) Macron,” senior Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Friday as quoted in a Reuters report.

Ushakov added that no specific date had yet been set for the summit, to attend which he said Moscow had three preconditions.

While underlining the need for the separation of rival armed forces on either side of the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, he also called for a consensus on the wording on a special status for the Donbass region, as well as a preliminary agreement on what the summit’s conclusions should be.

The development came as the Western backed Ukrainian government forces have been battling the pro-Russia independence fighters in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine since 2014 in a bloody conflict that has so far left behind a death toll of more than 13,000 people. Sporadic clashes between the two side is still continuing despite a truce agreement.

Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France last met in October 2016 to negotiate the implementation of a peace pact signed in the Belarus capital Minsk a year earlier, though it failed to achieve an enduring ceasefire.

Meanwhile, a recent prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine has revitalized optimism for improved ties between the neighboring countries.

Ushakov also described last week’s prisoner swap as “a very important action” that could bring about better relations between Moscow and Kiev. He further indicated that the Paris summit may take place sometime next month.

SS