Press Statement of Special Representative Kinnunen after the regular Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on 10 November 2021

KYIV, 10 November 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

“The security situation along the contact line has further deteriorated. Since the last TCG meeting, SMM has reported 6746 cease fire violations, including 1451 explosions. During the last week of October, the Mission witnessed the highest number of cease-fire violations since July 2020.

Presence and use of weapon systems banned by joint commitments raises concern for risk of further escalation.

I am deeply worried by the recent intensification of difficulties that SMM is facing in implementation of its mandate. The number of impediments for SMM’s freedom of movement has increased. The Mission reports 37 freedom of movement impediments during the last two weeks, two of which on government-controlled areas. I reminded that SMM gives an invaluable role in different ways, from providing facts on the security situation all the way to contributing, by monitoring and by its presence, to the improvement of living conditions of the conflict-affected population.

A major theme in the Security Working Group concerned a continuous need for a possibility to exchange security guarantees for vital activities, such as critical infrastructure repairs.

Differences of views in the Political Working Group remain deep and prevented in engaging on substance related to the development of a single Plan of Action.

The meeting of the Humanitarian Working Group took place on the one-year anniversary of the planned opening of crossing points in Zolote and Shchastia. I am curious to learn and discuss, what still prevents this to happen and what are the other challenges relating to the crossing of the contact line.

The Economic Working Group had a good meeting and dealt in particular with water issues. With regard to ecological questions, the participants discussed concrete steps towards carrying out an inspection of IAEA. Pension payments and questions related to telecommunications were also addressed.”