Russia activates the talks on the Donbass

Since the end of December 2015, at Russia’s initiative, talks and contacts between politicians and high officials from Russia, Ukraine, the EU and the USA on the conflict in the Donbass had become more intensive. From official statements it appeared that Russia was pushing for the provisions of the Minsk agreement to be met as soon as possible, especially for Ukraine to adopt the proposed decentralisation reforms and to hold elections in the separatist-controlled part of the Donbass in the near future. Ukraine, for its part, was drawing particular attention to the need to grant the OSCE access to the entire territory of the Donbass, including the Ukrainian-Russian border; for a total ceasefire in the region, and for elections in the region to be held in accordance with Ukrainian law.