Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin says that no status quo will be maintained in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, as Ukrainian citizens must have their normal life back.
”Donbas is an integral part of Ukraine – these are millions of citizens of Ukraine. The status quo virtually means a protectorate of the Russian military, the Russian special services, but Ukrainian citizens must have peace and just their normal life back, so that they could have civilization there. Now they don`t feel civilized there,” he said.
Klimkin says that Russia is in fact making Donbas its colony, while the logic of the Minsk peace agreement is that Russia should leave eastern Ukraine and the international community will gain control there.
After free and fair elections are held in Donbas, it should get back to normal life ”with the help of our friends,” Klimkin said.
Earlier, France`s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said at a press conference with Klimkin in Kyiv on Wednesday that a law on local elections in Donbas should be adopted and special status should be granted to the region after the elections.
