Ukraine: the « Normandy format » summit in Paris

The summit on the peace process in Ukraine with French Presidents Emmanuel Macron, Russian Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Angela Merkel is being held today in Paris.

On the eve of the departure of the Ukrainian president, demonstrations were also organized in Kiev, to ask the head of state not to surrender. It must be said that in addition to his inexperience, Volodymyr Zelensky also faces a very influential Vladimir Putin in Europe, thanks in particular to his energy power. Especially since Russia, already sanctioned by Europe to be a supporter of the rebels, is unlikely to lose much in this summit, unlike Ukraine.

On December 9, the French, Russian and Ukrainian presidents, as well as the German Chancellor, gathered for a long-awaited meeting in the « Normandy format », on Ukraine for the first time since 2016, and arrived at the presidential palace. are seen in bilateral meetings before the quadriateral summit.

An appointment that is also the first meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, elected last May. The Franco-German couple is indeed particularly present in the resolution of this conflict for several years, since it is the fifth meeting of its kind, henceforth called « Normandy format » (the first summit had taken place at occasion of the commemoration of the landing in Normandy in June 6, 2014).

This is to resume discussions on the resolution of the conflict that has lasted in eastern Ukraine since 2014, and which has already claimed more than 13,000 deaths (including more than 3,000 civilians) and 1.5 million displaced, according to UN.

Regarding the results of these talks, « do not expect major progress, » writes the daily Kommersant.

Indeed, Kiev will try to obtain the restoration of its control on the Ukrainian-Russian border before the organization of elections in Donbass, while the agreements mention that this will be possible only after the elections in the self-proclaimed republics.

Moscow will not move from its original position: « We demand the full and strict implementation of the Minsk agreements adopted by the UN Security Council Resolution 2202, » the Russian Minister said again on December 6 in Rome. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The country could be cut from parts of Donbass, where shots are still heard. In recent months, however, some encouraging signs are being felt. Troops are gradually withdrawing from the war zones, and an exchange of prisoners between the two countries took place in September 2019. This does not guarantee a peace to come.

The four heads of state took place around a round table in a lounge of the Elysian Palace shortly after 16:00. The talks were to focus on the war between Kiev and the pro-Russian separatists, a conflict that left more than 13,000 dead in the Donbass, an industrial stronghold in eastern Ukraine.

The protocol allowed Putin and Zelensky to meet for about 45 minutes, during the summit in Paris, it was not possible to agree on a new separation of forces and means of the parties in conflict on the whole line contact, the reason is the Kiev position, which representatives said they would not be able to ensure the withdrawal of their military.

According to information, the leaders of the four countries agreed before the Paris meeting agreed on increasing post-control along the line of contact. So far, the forces have been divided into three pilot areas – Stanitsa Lugansk, Zolotoy and Petrovsky.

After a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, negotiations will resume in a quadripartite format, reports the office of the President of Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed on gas transit. The details were not disclosed. Putin replied, « Yes, I am happy. »

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