“Unfortunately, recent events in the Donbass indicate that the intra-Ukrainian crisis, which has already begun its seventh year, has more likely acquired the character of not a“ frozen ”but a smoldering conflict,” said Rudenko.
According to the deputy foreign minister, the shelling in Donbass does not stop, there are casualties among the civilian population and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Rudenko added that “all this could have been avoided” if Kiev complied with the Minsk agreements.
“Donetsk and Lugansk are ready for such work, while Kiev, under various pretexts, is evading direct dialogue with the Donbass, trying to oust its representatives from the negotiation process,” the deputy minister said.
Earlier, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky updated the composition of the Ukrainian delegation in the contact group for the Donbass.