DISINFO: Normandy format will cease to exist because Ukraine is unwilling to implement Minsk agreements
SUMMARY
Neither the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy nor his team intends to implement the Minsk agreements. The “Normandy format” will soon sink into oblivion due to Kyiv’s desire to disrupt the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine, claiming that Ukraine refuses to implement the Minsk agreements. Contrary to the claims in this article, the implementation of the agreements remains one of the key priorities of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Over the last 12 months, Ukraine has made serious steps to resolve the conflict in Donbas peacefully. Ukraine initiated a Normandy Four meeting that was held on 9 December 2019. Ukraine agreed that a full and comprehensive ceasefire is necessary. The parties of the Normandy Summit also agreed to release captives on the principle "all for all" by December 2019. Three prisoner exchanges have been conducted, with the last one taking place during the COVID-19 lockdown. The law on special order of local self-government in certain areas of Donbas was extended for another year. A disengagement of troops was achieved in Zolote, Petrivske, and Stanytsia Luhanska. Ukraine also rebuilt a bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska that was destroyed by the pro-Russian militants in March 2015. Moreover, the negotiations in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) have not been suspended due to the coronavirus crisis. The meetings were held in a video format. On the latest meeting of the political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy Four in Berlin, the Ukrainian delegation stressed that "the agreements of the Paris summit must be fulfilled". The participants of the meeting agreed that every effort should be made to fully implement the decisions of the Paris summit. In particular, the parties agreed on the need for real measures to ensure a full and comprehensive ceasefire regime. See earlier disinformation cases alleging that Ukraine is trying to compromise and undermine the Minsk agreements, that Ukraine claims that the Minsk agreements are just a piece of paper, that Ukraine refuses to implement the Minsk agreements and continues the war in Donbas, and that Ukraine refuses to observe a truce in Donbas.