A so-called “Steinmeier formula” will not bring peace to Donbas because it is not a formula of peace, former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has said.
He said this in Chernihiv on Friday, October 25, after the traditional presentation of scholarships from the Ukraina charitable foundation to the best students of Chernihiv National University of Technology.
“The Steinmeier formula will not lead to peace in Donbas because it is not a formula of peace,” the politician said.
According to Kuchma, holding elections in Donbas without the withdrawal of troops, disarming, rebuilding of the Ukrainian border is a complete absurdity. Under current conditions, neither observers nor journalists will go there to control the election process, he said.
A special status for Donbas cannot be discussed, because it is a way to the confederate system of Ukraine, which is unacceptable for the country, he said.
Another nuance that must be taken into account before agreeing to any terms, Kuchma said, is the state of the occupied territory.
“This region is virtually destroyed. According to the most modest estimates, its restoration requires 100 billion euros,” he said.
So, the politician added, the restoration of peace in Donbas is a long and responsible process that largely depends on the position of the leaders of European countries, and especially on the position of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Today only this country has some influence on Russia,” Kuchma said.
On October 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine had agreed to the text of the so-called “Steinmeier formula.” According to him, the formula provides for the adoption in Ukraine of a temporary law on a special status for Donbas, which will come into force once the OSCE recognizes local elections in these territories as democratic.
© 2019 Ukrinform News
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When all invaders are gone there will be peace…
NO it will not.
No deals or Minisk II.
Freeze the conflict.
open the boarder and renew economic ties so Ukraine can get what it needs for it’s own best interests from the region and charge them for the gas and electricity.
Use Russia’s tactics to undermine the “Republics” governments while improving relations with moderates.
The whole area is as economically unviable as hell so Putin will still have to foot the bill for maintaining it.
Continue improving Ukraine. Ukraine’s prosperity is THE ultimate weapon in this war.
Once Putin’s hemorrhoids have consumed him. The next guy will have to make an equatable deal.
THEN reintegration can begin.
Ha,ha,ha,ha!