PRESS RELEASE: Ukraine to update the legal framework that regulates the status of the certain areas of Donbas
PRESS RELEASE: Ukraine to update the legal framework that regulates the status of the certain areas of Donbas
Опубліковано 08 жовтня 2017 року о 10:18
Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine continues. Certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine are occupied by Russian regular armed forces and its proxies;
Despite the efforts of Ukraine and the international community to ensure sustainable de-escalation on the basis of the Minsk agreements, Russia demonstrates unwillingness to implement their Minsk commitments, including the security provisions thereof: regular violations of the ceasefire, failure to withdraw heavy weapons and remove Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine, denial of OSCE control over the occupied territories, including the uncontrolled section of the border, impediments and intimidation of the OSCE SMM;
Over 2017 Russia has further consolidated its grip over the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine by recognizing fake documents issued by the illegal structures, establishing the ruble zone, expropriating Ukrainian enterprises, promoting the vision of “non-Ukrainian” future for Donbas (integration with Russia, so-called “Malorossiya” etc);
Against this backdrop, Ukraine deems it necessary to update the legal framework that regulates the status of the certain areas of Donbas as temporarily occupied territory with Russian occupation administration as a result of the ongoing Russian armed aggression;
The new legislation aims at bringing the practice of interaction with the occupied areas of Donbas in line with the situation on the ground and at improving the management of social and economic issues in order to properly address respective needs of people in the conflict zone;
The new legislation envisages that Ukraine remains devoted to peaceful resolution in Donbas by politico-diplomatic means, in particular through implementation of the Minsk agreements, with the ultimate goal of restoring sovereignty and territorial integrity over the occupied areas of Donbas;
Implementation by Russia of the security provisions of the Minsk agreements, yet to be done, remains crucial prerequisite for sustainable de-escalation and progress on other tracks of Minsk, including political one;
The new legislation will improve the mechanism of coordination between military, law-enforcement and special forces, as well as civil administrations, which appears to be necessary against the backdrop of regular armed provocations by the Russian hybrid forces
The new legislation is fully in line with Ukraine’s international commitments, including Minsk agreements.