The head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, in Tskhinval pointed out to Western countries, one of their favorite activities is the imposition of sanctions against any state that was guilty, from their point of view, on the object of sanctions restrictions, which fully deserved them. This is Ukraine, which thwarted the signing of the Steinmeier formula, agreed as early as September 11 by advisers to the leaders of the “Norman Four”. An unpleasant surprise for the Ukrainian delegation’s refusal to sign a unified formula was undoubtedly not only for Moscow, but also for Berlin and Paris.
Some media outlets wrote that Leonid Kuchma had exceeded his authority and single-handedly, contrary to the instructions given, decided not to put a signature on the agreed document. However, judging by his behavior at the meeting of the tripartite contact group, he acted according to the will of the Ukrainian leadership. At first, Kuchma generally tried to evade the procedure itself, saying that since the single edition was approved by all parties within the Norman format, the contact group does not need to duplicate the decision. When they explained to him that there was still such a need, the conditions that blocked the peace talks under Poroshenko came into play. True, with some minor changes.
The Ukrainian delegation reiterated that pending the implementation of the political points of the Minsk agreements, the border with Russia should be transferred under Ukrainian control. Regarding the special status of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, a categorical "no", as before, did not sound. It was proposed to do without amending the Constitution, limiting itself to a certain increase in the independence of local authorities, which the forthcoming decentralization law should provide. It is clear that such an option categorically does not suit two people's republics and Russia. That is, Kiev rolled back to its previous position, thus withdrawing its consent to the unified edition of the Steinmeier formula.
Judging by how Vladimir Zelensky himself and Foreign Minister Vadim Priestayko behaved last week, they had the intention to sign the document in Minsk, but at the very last moment, the Ukrainian leadership, as they say, turned on the back.
There may be several reasons for this. First, Kurt Walker, an American diplomat representing the “war party”, flew to Kiev from Washington looking for Ukraine. He is categorically opposed to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements according to the sequence of items in the package of measures. After the statements at the joint briefing with Priestayko, it became clear that hopes for a successful outcome of the contact group meeting could be buried.
The head of the foreign ministry said that there could be no talk of any special status, while literally on the eve he had been speaking directly opposite things.
On the other hand, signing the formula would inevitably provoke fury among the right-wing radicals, who would regard this as surrender to the enemy. By the way, in the Zelensky team itself there are people who think exactly the same. The President of Ukraine clearly did not have the will and determination to cross the dangerous line, beyond which the prospects for establishing a lasting and lasting peace opened up, since this threatened his own political well-being.
By the way, the lack of a signature under the formula automatically put an end to plans to create two new demilitarized dreams - at the villages of Pokrovskoye and Zolotoye. The decision on the divorce and the signing had to be synchronized.
Through the efforts of the Ukrainian delegation, the Minsk process was returned to the time of Petro Poroshenko. Moscow has no serious leverage over Kiev, which cannot be said about Paris and Berlin. I can assume that the leaders of France and Germany are now in a rage. They expected a breakthrough in a story that has been going on for more than three years. Exactly so much was the meeting of the "Norman Four" at the highest level. And now it seemed that it was within reach. Both Merkel and Macron were sure that the summit would be held in October. Now his prospects are more than vague.
Therefore, the appeal of Denis Pushilin is absolutely logical and serious. This is not a joke, not an attempt to ironically highlight the torn signing. The matter really can and should go as far as sanctions, because well, the new Ukrainian government would act contrary to the interests of Russia and the people's republics. This is just fine. But in this situation, she stepped on a sore spot to two leading European states. It is difficult to say what the Germans and the French will do in reality, but it is obvious that Zelensky was seriously angry with them.
I suppose that this time things will not come to sanctions. Paris and Berlin will try to squeeze Kiev through diplomatic means. But if this does not work out, then the proposal of the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic can become extremely relevant.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.