Kyiv, 28 August 2014 – Minsk negotiations of 26 August will enable developing a “roadmap” to swiftly restore peace in Ukraine, stated Valery Chaly, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration at a briefing in the UkraineCrisisMediaCenter.
Valery Chaly underlined that the Minsk meeting of 26 August was held in a unique format with four presidents and at the same time three representatives of the European Commission participating. He underlined that working day of Ukraine’s President started with a meeting with Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and ended with a joint de-brief with EU representatives. At the same time Valery Chaly mentioned fruitful bilateral talks Petro Poroshenko had with the President of Belarus Aleksander Lukashenko and the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. After the Minsk meeting the President of Ukraine held a row of phone conversations with the European Union leaders and with the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel.
According to the Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration the “roadmap” seeks to restore effective control over the Ukrainian-Russian border, joint action between the General Staff of the armed forces and between the border guard services, release of hostages and captives as well as to rebuild destroyed Donbas infrastructure. “Ukrainian side is ready for serious talks and concrete actions,” stressed the official.
Valery Chaly underlined that the President of Ukraine will submit the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement for ratification in September, Minsk negotiations have not by any means changed the Head of State’s position. “Association Agreement is a roadmap for reforms in Ukraine,” underlined the official. At the same time trilateral consultations at the Ministries level on implementation of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement are to be finalized by the middle of September. Last round of consultations will be held on 12 September this year.
Valery Chaly noted that Ukrainian diplomatic corps are involved to the maximum in the peace-making process in Ukraine. On 28 August Petro Poroshenko will be on official visit in Turkey to meet the newly elected President Erdogan, President’s Commissioner on issues of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev will also take part in it. In the nearest future the President of Ukraine will attend the European Council’s session on 30 August and the NATO summit on 4 September. The Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration noted that the Alliance is ready to assist Ukraine with treatment and rehabilitation of injured Ukrainian servicemen. “Ukraine considers NATO the biggest and most powerful organization for collective defense that’s why this summit will be able to provide a new impulse to our security,“ he wrapped up.
