Russia reacted to the statement of the adviser to the Kiev delegation in the trilateral contact group and the adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Oleksiy Arestovich, that Ukraine was “off the hook” of the Minsk agreements.

The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova, commenting on the words of Arestovich, compared Ukraine with "a fish sitting in a frying pan."

“This is what I successfully pulled off the hook.

It has broken through, a great achievement, "thought the fish, comfortably sitting in a frying pan, and mentally conveyed greetings to the fishermen," Zakharova wrote in her Telegram channel.

Recall that in April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking about the position of Volodymyr Zelensky on Donbass, noted that the team of the Ukrainian president “is wriggling as best it can”, trying to turn the Minsk agreements “upside down”.

“Now, in general, moral and international legal truth is on our side and on the side of the militia.

And I think we should not let off the hook Mr. Zelensky and his entire team, which is wriggling as best it can, ”he said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Lavrov recalled Zelensky's statements, "that they are no longer suitable, but we (Ukriane. -

RT

) need them, because the preservation of the Minsk agreements is a guarantee that there will be sanctions against Russia." 

At the same time, Lavrov stressed that in the West, in response to Moscow's calls to assess such statements of Kiev, "they shyly avert their eyes" and "demonstrate complete helplessness."

In addition, as the Russian Foreign Minister noted on August 31 during negotiations with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, the Russian side insists that the Ukrainian authorities stop trying to lead to a dead end in the settlement in Donbass.

Meanwhile, on September 3, the adviser to the Kiev delegation in the trilateral contact group, Aleksey Arestovich, commenting on Lavrov's words, said that Ukraine allegedly managed to get off the "hook of the Minsk agreements."

“This hook doesn't really exist anymore.

Or, in any case, Ukraine and Zelensky are no longer on the hook, "he said on the air of the Right to Power program, adding that this is" a huge breakthrough achievement. "

The first deputy head of the international committee of the Federation Council, Vladimir Dzhabarov, in a conversation with RT, emphasized that such words are an irresponsible statement by a person who does not understand that Ukraine's withdrawal from the Minsk agreements could become an impetus for the resumption of hostilities in Donbass.

“And if Ukraine really wants peace, it must strictly follow the Minsk agreements, and not try to withdraw from them or involve new countries.

I think, firstly, Zelensky's visit to the States showed that Americans will not drag chestnuts out of the fire for Ukraine.

And secondly, I think that after such statements, the countries that were the guarantors of these agreements - Germany and France - will simply turn their backs on Ukraine.

And Ukraine will be left alone with its problems, ”he explained.

The senator expressed hope that the guarantor countries will work out some common mechanisms to force Ukraine to comply with the Minsk agreements.

In turn, political scientist Ivan Mezyukho, in an interview with RT, recalled that Ukraine "independently and voluntarily" signed the Minsk agreements. 

“When Arestovich says that Ukraine is no longer“ on the hook ”of the Minsk agreements, this should probably be regarded as the fact that Kiev has finally established itself in its position on their non-implementation.

That is, in fact, Arestovich declares about the sabotage of the Minsk agreements by the Ukrainian side, ”he explained. 

The expert expressed the opinion that Kiev may be planning to withdraw from the agreements, however, without the approval of the United States of America, Kiev will not take such a provocative step.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Moscow is concerned about Ukraine's statements about the actual refusal to implement the Minsk agreements.

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“One cannot but be alarmed by the fact that Ukraine adopted a number of laws and bylaws, which in their essence contradict the Minsk agreements.

One gets the impression that the leadership of this country has decided, in principle, to refuse to resolve the situation peacefully, ”the Russian leader said during a press conference following talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Putin said that he asked Merkel to influence the Ukrainian side in the matter of fulfilling all earlier obligations.

The head of state drew attention to the fact that the Ukrainian side at the official negotiations says one thing for the press, but inside the country makes the opposite statements: "In fact, they say that they are not going to fulfill the Minsk agreements."

“We have no other instrument for achieving peace, and I believe that this should be treated very carefully and with respect, despite the fact that we have not yet been able to achieve the final goals of the settlement,” Putin emphasized.