Photo:
© RIA Novosti / Sergey Guneev
MOSCOW, 10 Aug — RIA Novosti. The Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov will meet with US special envoy in Ukraine with Kurt Volker in the last two weeks of August in Moscow, the newspaper “Izvestia” with reference to diplomatic sources.
“Agreement was reached about the upcoming meeting between Walker and Surkov in Ukraine. It will be held in Moscow before the end of August. Most likely, in the last two weeks,” the newspaper quoted a diplomatic source.
A source close to the Kremlin administration, told “Izvestia” that the Russian side intends to explain in details all the points of the Minsk agreements, which, according to Russian assessments, are not met by Kiev. According to the interlocutor of “Izvestia”, the parties will discuss settlement in Ukraine and the escalation of the conflict. One of the main topics will be the observance of the Minsk agreements by the parties to the conflict: the Kiev and self-proclaimed DND and LNR.
“Moscow to present facts pointing to the fact that Kiev does not fulfill the agreement, and explain the obligations of Ukraine under the Minsk agreements,” the source added.
Citing high-ranking sources in diplomatic circles of Russia, “Izvestiya” also reported that the decision of the meeting of the curators of the Ukrainian direction in Russia and the United States was made after the talks between Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and us Secretary of state Rex Tillerson on the sidelines of the ASEAN forum on August 6 in Manila.
Walker became the special envoy of the US state Department in early July, immediately after the first meeting of the presidents of Russia and the United States. It is noteworthy that the position of special envoy for Ukraine, the state Department was created for the first time in U.S. history. First visit Walker in Kiev took place on 9 July. Then he accompanied Tillerson met with the leadership of Ukraine. And July 23-24 Walker visited the settlements Avdeevka and Kramatorsk near the contact line in the Donbass. After that, he went to Paris, where he discussed with French and German colleagues, the course of negotiations in “Norman format”. The Russian side is alarmed by statements by Walker that Washington is considering supplying weapons to Ukraine.