Minsk Reaches Its Limitis

We need a new format and a new place for negotiations on the Donbass.

Belarusian ex-ambassador to Ukraine Raman Biassmertny wrote about this on Facebook:

– The era of the Minsk negotiations ended on January 1, 2016, because it was until that date that the agreements were formally in force. Since then, the negotiations have turned into a political chewing gum. I realized the futility of this process, so I quitted it in the spring of 2016.

Leonid Kuchma’s withdrawal from the Minsk process is another evidence of the unproductiveness of these negotiations.

A few remarks on the Kuchma's decision.

First. Obviously, the decision is made. And since the mission has volunteer basis, it is difficult to say that the decision will be changed.

Second. Information about a possible exit of Kuchma lingered in the air for the last few days. This was enough to cause at least some reaction from Bankovaya (the street in Kiev, where the administration of the President of Ukraine is located - editor's note). Nothing happened.

Third. All recent events and statements around the Minsk process point to the high tension and unproductiveness of these negotiations. Especially when it comes to the requests to stop shelling or release illegally detained hostages.

And finally. The patience of those who still fly to Minsk to negotiate surprises me.

We need a new format and a new place for negotiations on the Donbass.

I've been stressing this since 2016!