Russia: Kremlin puts off issue of peacekeepers in Ukraine
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 1 May 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: Kremlin puts off issue of peacekeepers in Ukraine, 1 May 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5565ba6532.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 01, 2015
The Kremlin has refuted a Ukrainian claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to deploy peacekeepers in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian soldiers are fighting pro-Russian separatists.
A Ukrainian presidential statement on April 30 said Putin had accepted the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping contingent to the Donbas region. The statement followed a phone conversation among Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on May 1 it was "absolutely wrong" to raise the issue of peacekeepers until all provisions of a February cease-fire had been fulfilled. He said, though, that Russia had never disputed the notion of deploying peacekeepers.
The four leaders noted "certain progress" following their phone conversation. This included withdrawal of heavy weapons from the region as stipulated in the cease-fire agreement.
Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
