Press statement by the Trilateral Contact Group

KYIV, 2 September 2014 - The Trilateral Contact Group of senior representatives of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office had a face-to-face meeting, on 1 September 2014, with representatives of the self-proclaimed entities of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern regions of Ukraine. 

The meeting was held in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, as a courtesy of the Belarusian leadership.  It was held as a follow up to the Minsk meeting of 26 August 2014 between the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.

The participants discussed the present general situation in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, with particular attention to ideas and proposals, submitted respectively by the Ukrainian authorities and representatives of the self-proclaimed entities. 

They concerned, inter alia, the commencement of an inclusive political dialogue, the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire combined with an effective control of the Ukrainian-Russian border as well as an economic rehabilitation of the areas affected by the armed conflict.

Furthermore, the participants discussed the further release of persons detained in the course of the conflict as well as the issue of additional humanitarian assistance for the civilian population in areas affected by  the conflict.

In this context, the participants positively assessed the release of 50 detained persons, which took place in August 2014 as well as the ongoing efforts aimed at providing humanitarian assistance to the conflict-affected areas, in accordance with the relevant international standards and a possible involvement of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The Contact Group agreed with representatives of the self-proclaimed entities that they will continue consultations and co-operation on the above and other issues and will hold another meeting at the end of this week.