In a recent address, the United States Mission to the OSCE expressed disappointment with the Russian Federation's stance on resolving the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The statement criticized Russia for what it described as a lack of seriousness in diplomatic efforts and for perpetuating falsehoods about the situation in eastern Ukraine.
The U.S. representative urged that all parties should focus on implementing agreements reached in Minsk last September and through the Package of Measures established in February. They emphasized that Russia needs to withdraw its forces and equipment from Ukraine, a step which has not been confirmed by any reports.
Concerns were raised about access issues faced by the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), with Ukrainian forces reportedly causing delays at checkpoints. However, these incidents were contrasted with extensive areas where SMM has no access due to Russian activities, highlighting a significant disparity.
The U.S. further called on Russia to permit international observation of the border to facilitate a genuine political process and support efforts towards establishing conditions for free and fair elections in Donetsk and Luhansk. The goal is for local political leaders to be elected who can effectively engage within Ukraine.
It was noted that Ukraine had identified representatives for working groups aimed at advancing political dialogue, while Sputnik reported that these names have been acknowledged by both Russia and separatist entities "LPR" and "DPR". Despite this acknowledgment, there was an absence of public confirmation from Russia regarding its representatives, placing responsibility on them to advance discussions.
Finally, appreciation was extended for public confirmation from Russia concerning their participation in the Tri-lateral Contact Group's working groups. This development is expected to expedite progress in addressing the conflict.