As four-way peace talks over the conflict in Ukraine have been ongoing in Minsk, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius believes the main task is to reach an agreement on the control of the international border between Ukraine and Russia.
As four-way peace talks over the conflict in Ukraine have been ongoing in Minsk, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius believes the main task is to reach an agreement on the control of the international border between Ukraine and Russia.
Linkevičius told the national television on Wednesday night that it is very unlikely that the conflict in eastern Ukraine will end after the Minsk meeting, whereas such delay gives an advantage to Russia. Meanwhile for Ukraine it is a bad situation both from the standpoint of security and economy.
According to the minister, it is crucial to agree on the control of the border between Ukraine and Russia, which could be controlled by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
"If it is not agreed on the issue of border control, then all other promises are meaningless. Weapons will continue to move and fighters will continue to come," the minister emphasised.
According to Linkevičius, even after the Wednesday's meeting, it is highly unlikely that Moscow will retract its fighters from Donetsk and Luhansk regions and stop funding separatists. Linkevičius said that this was promised many times in the past but promises were not fulfilled, therefore the foreign minister does not think this time will be any different.
