The Russian side in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) demands that Ukraine recognize the Sputnik V vaccine in exchange for the opening of the checkpoint on the contact line in the Donbass.
Oleksiy Arestovich, advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, speaker of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG, told about this on the air of one of the TV channels.
According to him, Russia wants recognition not only of its Sputnik V vaccine, but also certificates of vaccination with this drug of residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Donbass. However, such conditions for the opening of checkpoints of entry-exit are unacceptable for Kiev.
Arestovich drew attention to the fact that Ukrainian checkpoints have been open since November 2020. However, from the side of the occupied territories, they are closed, and the occupants do not allow citizens from there.
– Our checkpoints have been open for more than a year. Open every day at 8.00 am. It remains only to let the citizens from the other side pass. But here, too, they caught on to the need to recognize the Sputnik V vaccine in the documents, to recognize the documents with the seals of the so-called “DPR/LPR”. In short, to do everything that we will never do, & # 8212; Arestovich emphasized.
He added that during the last TCG meeting this year, held on December 22, it was not possible to agree on the opening of all checkpoints in Donbass.
According to Arestovich, blocking the opening of the checkpoint endangers the well-being of the residents of CADLO, after all, they will not be able to freely come to receive payments, formalize Ukrainian documents and for vaccination against Covid-19.
As noted by Arestovich, negotiations on the opening of the checkpoint usually boil down to attempts to subjectivize the so-called & # 8220; LPR/DPR & # 8221 ;. That is, Russia is trying to position itself as a “mediator” and not as a party to the armed conflict in Donbass.
– Of course, we will not agree to this. Because the basis of a peaceful settlement is the recognition by Russia of its status as a party to the conflict & # 8230; Both the Minsk agreements and the Normandy agreements were signed with the participation of the Russian Federation, and can be implemented only if Russia recognizes itself as a party to the conflict, & # 8212; explained Arestovich.
