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Russia accuses Ukraine of ignoring peace deal Russia accuses Ukraine of ignoring peace deal
(about 1 hour later)
MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Ukrainian’s government of dragging its feet on implementing last year’s cease-fire agreement. MOSCOW — Opening a day of intense international diplomacy Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday accused Ukrainian’s government of dragging its feet on implementing last year’s cease-fire agreement.
Although last year’s cease-fire between separatists and Ukrainian government forces has largely held, none of the political elements of the deal like calling a local election there has been implemented. Although last year’s cease-fire between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces has largely held, none of the political elements, including calling a local election there, has been implemented.
Lavrov, who was hosting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Moscow on Wednesday, told reporters that Kiev’s inaction is the main stumbling block to a peace settlement in the east. Lavrov said Germany had floated an idea of holding an election in the rebel-occupied territories this summer but Kiev said no. Kiev insists it can’t hold the vote there because of security concerns. Fighting in Ukraine’s industrial heartland which has close ties to Russia has killed more than 9,100 people and left large swathes of land under rebel control.
Germany, France and Russia have mediated talks between representatives of the government and separatists at talks in Minsk, Belarus, which resulted in a broad cease-fire agreement.
Lavrov, who was hosting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Moscow, told reporters that Kiev’s inaction is the main stumbling block to a peace settlement in the east. Lavrov said Germany had floated an idea of holding an election in the rebel-occupied territories this summer but Kiev said “no.”
“Minsk-2 cannot be reviewed, and we should resist attempts to undermine it,” Lavrov said.
Kiev insists it can’t hold the vote there because it cannot guarantee security for election officials. Rebels in their turn have said they will not allow Ukrainian right-wing parties to run, which the Ukrainian government says makes the election impossible.
Steinmeier on Wednesday urged both sides to comply with the partial withdrawal and warned of a possible escalation.Steinmeier on Wednesday urged both sides to comply with the partial withdrawal and warned of a possible escalation.
Both Steinmeier and Lavrov appeared to be in a jovial mood and Steinmeier said they both pledged to “look for way to overcome the differences that stand in our way to find a solution” for eastern Ukraine.
Steinmeier’s visit to Moscow opens a day of top diplomacy at the Russian capital with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arriving later for talks on Ukraine and Syria.
Steinmeier’s office said he will have a bilateral meeting with Kerry. It was not immediately clear if there will be a three-way meeting.
Now that a truce in Syria is in place, Kerry will be seeking clarity from President Vladimir Putin and Lavrov as to where Russia stands on a political transition for Syria, particularly on the future of President Bashar Assad, according to U.S. officials.
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Matthew Lee in Washington and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.