Kiev intends to agree with Russia a bill on the special status of Donbass. This statement was made by the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Affairs, a member of the ruling party "Servant of the People" Bohdan Yaremenko.
“It will not only be a decision of the Verkhovna Rada, but it will also be a position agreed with the Russian Federation,” the deputy said on the air of 112 Ukraine channel.
The politician also noted that, in his opinion, Moscow should show "greater progress" in fulfilling security conditions so that Ukraine agreed to take part in a new round of negotiations in the "Norman format".
"It is obvious that if the Russian side spoke about some dates, then she believes that Ukraine has fulfilled the prerequisites, but on our part we want more or sufficient progress in fulfilling the security conditions," the People's Deputy said.
As experts noted, Kiev should coordinate the law on special status, first of all, with the republics of Donbass.
“Ukraine needs to coordinate all issues related to legislation on special status, legislation on elections, and amendments to the Constitution with representatives of Donetsk and Lugansk,” said Alexei Chesnakov, director of the Center for Political Conjuncture, in an interview with RT.
“Smooth the backlash”
Earlier, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky suggested discussing the law on the special status of Donbass at the national level.
“Will we develop it and adopt it quickly?” No. We will write it together, in cooperation and in public discussion by the entire Ukrainian society, without crossing a single red line. Consequently, no surrender, no surrender of the national interests of Ukraine, no agreements and global steps without the consent of the people of Ukraine. Only the return of people and our territories, ”the politician said, adding that the Steinmeier formula will be included in the new law.
- Bogdan Yaremenko
- © @ bohdan.yaremenko
Many Ukrainian politicians regarded this statement as a proposal to hold a referendum. However, Yaremenko rejected this assumption.
“There is no law on a referendum that would allow quickly if necessary (to carry it out. - RT ), but at the same time, the existing procedures for considering bills in committees ... allow you to keep all citizens of Ukraine well aware of what is happening,” quoted by RIA Novosti.
The people's deputy also noted that a plebiscite could be perceived by Moscow “as an attempt to not fulfill its obligations”, which would cause a breakdown in peace agreements.
In addition, Zelensky assured Ukrainian citizens that the law would not be signed at the meeting in the "Norman format", the date of which is currently being discussed.
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The law "On the special procedure of local self-government in certain regions of Donetsk and Lugansk regions" was signed by Petro Poroshenko back in 2014. As indicated in the text of the document, it “determines the provisional procedure for organizing local self-government” in certain regions of Donbass for “speedy normalization of the situation”.
The first article of the law states that special status is introduced for a period until December 31, 2019. According to the provisions of the document, a ban on discrimination and criminal prosecution of persons related to events in the territories of Donetsk and Lugansk regions should be introduced in these regions. In addition, Kiev guarantees residents of unrecognized republics the right to use the Russian language in public and private life.
However, in practice, these norms were not applied, since in March 2015, the Rada postponed the entry into force of the special status of Donbass until the elections in the region were held in accordance with Ukrainian election legislation, which did not take place. Now, when the law on the special status of Donbass expires, Kiev will have to develop a normative act that will replace the law adopted by the previous administration.
- Vladimir Zelensky
- Reuters
- © Valentyn Ogirenko
Kiev is obliged to grant the self-proclaimed republics of Donbass a special status under the terms of the Minsk agreements. The same obligation is enshrined in the Steinmeier formula, which was agreed in early October, including by Kiev, the DPR and LPR.
The Steinmeier formula, named after the former Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, involves granting special status to certain regions of Donbass at the time of the local elections there in accordance with Ukrainian legislation. In the event that the vote is recognized by the OSCE as valid and legitimate, a special status will be assigned to the region on an ongoing basis.
The news of Kiev’s approval of the "Steinmeier formula" provoked an extremely negative reaction from Ukrainian nationalists, who staged rallies in the capital under the slogan "No surrender."
Zelensky’s promise to discuss the bill with society was a response to these statements, experts say. At the same time, according to political analyst Anna Aryamova, if such a referendum were to take place, most of the inhabitants of Ukraine would support the federalization of the country.
“The only way to save Ukraine in the state borders in which it was is to carry out federalization and provide preferences to the republics. The aggravation of the conflict will simply lead to consolidation of the current situation, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.
A similar point of view is shared by the director of the Kiev Center for Political Studies and Conflictology, Mikhail Pogrebinsky.
“Zelensky spoke about this because he was looking for a way to smooth out the negative reaction to Kiev’s signing of the Steinmeier formula,” the analyst explained in an interview with RT.
Forced maneuvers
In addition to the promise to agree on a new law on the status of Donbass with citizens, Zelensky put forward additional conditions for Kiev to fulfill the provisions of the Steinmeier formula: the absence of military personnel in the Donbas and transfer of control to Ukraine on the border with Russia.
In the DNI and LC, these requirements were rejected. According to the leadership of the republics, by signing the Steinmeier formula, Kiev recognized the right of Donbass to independently determine its fate, the ability to decide how the local judicial system, relations with Russia and the economy will be formed.
“The Kiev authorities will not get any control over the border,” the Donetsk news agency quoted a statement by the heads of the people's republics.
- APU in the Donbass
- Reuters
- © Sergei Karazy
At the same time, Kiev was informed that they have a “Plan B” in case the OSCE does not recognize the elections as having taken place in the territories of Donbass.
“Plan B” is our armed forces, our economy, our police. This is all that should ensure the peace and security of our state, ”said the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Vadim Pristayko, on the air of the 1 + 1 television channel.
According to the minister, if the OSCE does not recognize the results of elections that may be held in the future in the self-proclaimed republics, Ukraine will return to the point where it is now.
According to Pogrebinsky, speaking of "plan B", the minister implies the power capture of Donbass.
“However, he understands that the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot carry out such a military operation,” the expert explained in a commentary to RT.
The analyst pointed out that Zelensky also does not dare to firmly follow the course towards resolving the conflict, fearing protests from the radicals.
“Now everything will be determined by how Kiev is ready to really implement the Minsk agreements. So far, Zelensky takes one step towards a peaceful settlement, and then retreats again, putting forward demands that cannot be realized, ”Pogrebinsky said.
Aryamova adheres to a similar point of view.
“Zelensky does not have a clear understanding of how to resolve the conflict in the Donbass. He understands that the force method is unacceptable, but he also cannot fully follow the Minsk agreements. Therefore, he has to maneuver how Poroshenko did before him, ”the expert summed up.