“Exceptional global situation with #coronavirus should not result in the ability of Russia to fulfil, unilaterally, its strategic goals in Ukraine. Germany should remain capable in undertaking actions”. Here is an unofficial translation of the statement by the Spokesperson for Eastern European Policy of Germany’s Green party, Bundestag MP Manuel Sarrazin

The Spokesperson for Eastern European Policy of Germany’s Green party, Bundestag MP Manuel Sarrazin explains the consequences of the exceptional international situation due to the coronavirus pandemic in Ukraine:

“In the course of the global coronavirus pandemic, the Kremlin implements key points of its policy towards Ukraine. At the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on 11 March, participants agreed to create a new advisory body. This body is supposed to facilitate a dialogue between conflicting parties and to make proposals on political and legislative decisions; probably, also on possible local elections in Donbas. This body should consist of ten representatives appointed by the Government of Ukraine, and ten people from areas not controlled by the state. After consultations with Germany, France and the OSCE, the group should be officially opened on 25 March. What at first glance looks like the long-awaited new dynamics in the Minsk process is, in fact, a further destruction of the Minsk agreements. Due to the equal status of Ukrainian representatives and representatives of the occupied territories, the advisory is extremely doubtful in a political sense. First of all, it fulfils the key requirement of Russia: for many years, the Kremlin has demanded Ukraine to negotiate directly with the puppet government.” 

Manuel Sarrazin, Spokesperson for Eastern European Policy of Germany’s Green party, comments on it:

“The exceptional international situation due to the coronavirus pandemic should not result in the ability of Russia to fulfil, unilaterally, its strategic goals in Ukraine. Germany should remain capable in undertaking actions here as well. The creation of the advisory body with the participation of de facto rulers in Donetsk and Lugansk does not contribute to the implementation of agreements reached earlier. Everyone knows that these field commanders are and always will be puppets of the Kremlin.

Recently, new reports have emerged on the catastrophic human rights situation in the occupied regions. The news that warlords will get a seat at the negotiating table can destabilize the situation in Ukraine. In this case we hope for an absolute transparency from the Federal German Government. Russia is and remains a party to the war in Donbas region and must also bear responsibility for this. With the help of the so-called advisory council, Putin is gradually trying to achieve recognition of the occupation and annexation of Crimea. It is important to prevent this.”

 Source: Bündnis 90/Die Grünen