OREANDA-NEWS During the interview with Ukrainian TV channels, President Petro Poroshenko noted that in the course of the negotiations in the Normandy format held in Berlin on October 19, the parties agreed to elaborate a “roadmap” of implementation of the Minsk agreements by the end of November.

The Head of State informed that the diplomatic advisors of the Normandy four leadership would have a meeting shortly. Then, the foreign ministers will meet to prepare for the next summit at which the “roadmap” is to be approved. “We agreed to complete this issue by the end of November. I think we must insist on the completion of that issue,” the President noted.

“Otherwise, at the European Council’s session in December, the EU leadership will have every reason to continue and enhance sanctions. We, as Ukrainian side, put forward clear proposal to continue sanctions not for half a year, but for the whole 2017. This issue is now being discussed among the EU member-states,” the President said. Petro Poroshenko emphasizes that the EU is no more discussing whether to prolong sanctions or not unless Minsk is implemented. “We have reached unity. Pay attention to the statement by President of the European Council Donald Tusk who said that the meeting in the Normandy format had ensured unity in the European Council,” the President stressed.

The Head of State denied reports that supposedly during the negotiations in the Normandy format, secret agreements have been reached that are not announced to the public. “This is not a typical style for European policy. It is in Moscow, where one can hold negotiations, sign secret agreements and conceal them for years. All Minsk agreements in the form of the complex of measures, protocol of September 5, memorandum are clearly made public,” the President noted. According to him, during the meeting in Berlin, Ukrainian, French and German draft “roadmaps” have been put forward.

The Head of State noted the importance of transparency of negotiations for the public. That is why after the meeting in Berlin, the President told journalists about the results and instructed Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin and Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Kostiantyn Yelisieiev to inform the MPs and journalists on the details of negotiations.

According to the President, the major part of negotiations had been dedicated to the issues of security and the Ukrainian party had outlined several key proposals. “Point number one - stop playing ping pong: who and when must implement this or that part of the Minsk agreements. There must be certain date and responsible party next to every item. Otherwise, there will be no progress. This is called the roadmap,” Petro Poroshenko said. He added that the roadmap is not a change, substitution or revision of the Minsk agreements. The second Ukrainian point is the necessity of the OSCE armed police mission on the touch line, delimitation line, in the areas of storage of heavy artillery and on the border.

Also, the security package includes the completion of forces separation in three areas: Zolote, Petrovske and Stanytsia Luhanska. “To refute any lies - Ukraine doesn’t leave any village. Ukraine removes one observation post. Russian terrorist troops remove three posts,” the Head of State informed. According to him, there are four next areas where the separation of forces is to be conducted. “One of these four areas must be Debaltseve,” the President said.