In the course of negotiations in “Norman format” Russia has agreed to discuss the replacement of the leadership of terrorist organizations “LNR” and “DNR”, but at the same time made demands on pension provision of Kiev inhabitants of the occupied territories, the cessation of the trade embargo and the official abolition of the ATO, writes Sergei Rachmaninov in an article for “Zn”.
According to him, Russian diplomats demonstrate formal tendency to make concessions. “In contacts with Western diplomats they are voiced, for example, a willingness to discuss the replacement of Zakharchenko and Carpenter’s other, compromise, and even agreed with partners in the “channel format” figures. But this, from the point of view of the informants, is not associated with sensitivity to the wishes of Berlin and Kiev. There are also more pragmatic motives: “leaders” is somewhat presumptuous, pretty caught stealing. This, incidentally, is one of the reasons why the financing of the “republics” is truncated. However, hypothetical bias odious “chapters” ORDO and ORLO Moscow serves as a demonstration of their compromise,” – he said.
In addition, Russia, as writes the author, has agreed to discuss the possibility of arms of the OSCE mission and its right to fulfill its functions not only during, but also after a hypothetical election in ORDA. However, he stressed that Moscow’s size and mandate of the mission of Ukraine categorically do not want.
Rakhmanin reports that the Kremlin has also interpreted the requirements for the withdrawal of Donbass regular units of the Russian Armed forces, demonstrating its “flexibility”. “Not officially recognizing the presence of military personnel in the Donbass, Russia has demonstrated a “flexible” response to demands for clean out their regular units. According to our sources, a significant part of the Russian military in recent years has been derived from IDLO – as another demonstration of the pliability of the Kremlin. But impressive (and constantly expanding) group is still concentrated at the borders of Ukraine and at any moment can be transferred to Donbass”, – stated in the article.
While negotiating positions of the Russians, according to Rachmaninoff, also changed. “Hardly probable not the main requirements became mandatory pension provision Kiev residents ORDO full unconditional abolition of any form of trade embargo and official cancellation of the ATO”, – said the author.
“Russia remains unwilling to concede on the key issue: proposal is not that of border control by Kiev, but at least on the permanent monitoring by the OSCE mission to Moscow blocked. And without that, any talk of elections, “the special status”, the de-occupation and reintegration, et cetera meaningless. They are meaningless without a full ceasefire and complete withdrawal of weapons – the starting point of the Minsk agreements,” he concludes.
