- Title: Kiev and rebels agree on Steinmeier formula for Ukraine's east
- Date: 1st October 2019
- Summary: MINSK, BELARUS (OCTOBER 1, 2019) (REUTERS) TALKS VENUE PRESIDENT HOTEL UKRAINIAN FLAG IN FRONT OF HOTEL OSCE'S REPRESENTATIVE AT UKRAINE PEACE TALKS, MARTIN SAJDIK, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) OSCE'S REPRESENTATIVE AT UKRAINE PEACE TALKS, MARTIN SAJDIK, SAYING: "With recommendation of the political advisors of the Normandy four from September 11, today the members of the trilateral contact group and representatives of special regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions confirmed the text of the Steinmeier formula in letters addressed to me, to be implemented in the Ukrainian legislation. The same advisors agreed on the text in the Normandy format. (CONTINUES IN WIDER SHOT) As a result of today's discussion on the security issues, the contact group managed to define the date - October 7 - for the renewed separation of armies and military vehicles in the area of Zolote and Petrovske." SAJDIK LEAVING SELF-PROCLAIMED DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC FOREIGN MINISTER, NATALIA NESTEROVA, AND LUHANSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC'S ENVOY TO MINSK GROUP ON RESOLUTION OF UKRAINIAN CRISIS, VLADISLAV DEINEGO, SPEAKING WITH MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SELF-PROCLAIMED DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC FOREIGN MINISTER, NATALIA NESTEROVA, SAYING: "Today we had a really victorious meeting. In our view we made a huge breakthrough, as we have been urging Ukraine to agree with Steinmeier formula. In these three years nothing worked, neither the direct instructions of the Normandy format advisors nor direct instructions of the Normandy format leaders. And today after yet another direct signal from the Normandy format advisors, the Ukrainian side after all agreed to sign Steinmeier formula." VARIOUS OF HOTEL EXTERIOR
- Embargoed: 15th October 2019 22:24
- Keywords: Ukraine eastern Ukraine Poroshenko Donetsk Luhansk Zelenskiy Steinmeier formula peace plan
- Location: MINSK, BELARUS AND KIEV, UKRAINE
- City: MINSK, BELARUS AND KIEV, UKRAINE
- Country: Various
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZ9PH6V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Representatives of Kiev authority and pro-Russian rebels agreed on Tuesday (October 1) on a set of measures introducing a special status for Ukraine's breakaway regions after conducting local election, known as Steinmeier formula.
The representatives of the rebel republics of Luhansk and Donetsk welcomed the decision as a victory. However former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a statement on his Facebook page that no legitimate election in the area can be held before the retreat of all foreign military forces from the region, disarmament of rebels, and return of the displaced people. Poroshenko also said the participation of Kiev-backed forces and candidates at the election is a must.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said there would be 'no election under the gun' in the east of Ukraine, referring to the presence of armed Russian-backed separatists in the territory of Donbass.
Zelenskiy said any election in the Donbass region must take place in accordance with Ukrainian legislation, as well as under international standards.
The President said the law on the special status of Donbass as the non-government-controlled territory remains valid until December 31, 2019, then it would be replaced by a new one developed through public discussion.
Kiev's forces have been battling pro-Russian separatists in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine since 2014 in a conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives.
Sporadic fighting continues despite a ceasefire agreement.
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