Normandy format meeting agreed on Dec 9

UKRAINE - In Brief 16 Nov 2019 by Dmytro Boyarchuk

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Yesterday, on November 15, President Office informed that meeting under Normandy format (France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine) will do happen on December 9. Over the last few months President Zelenskiy has been striving to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss potential ways of de-escalation. Russia as well as Germany and France required Ukraine to comply with Minsk accords which presumed so-called ‘Steinmeier formula’. Zelenskiy officially informed Ukraine will comply with the formula what triggered massive protests against capitulation at the mainland of Ukraine. Nevertheless, President Office pushed forward for withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the frontline. Media reported that Moscow made an attempt to add few more preconditions putting in the bowl Gazprom debt to Naftogaz and renewal of gas transit contract through Ukraine from January 2020. Allegedly Kremlin is seeking for a ‘package deal’ to solve main problems they face with Ukraine through one ‘black box’ bargain. However, Kyiv rejected the idea of mixing apples and oranges. Rumors circulated that meeting is at risk. The fact the meeting was finally scheduled gives some tiny hope. Still there is a high concern that Russia might cheat. Zelenskiy has poor negotiation experience and none knows what his negotiating position might be. He many times repeated he will learn that when talking to Putin. Quite a shaky ground to start a serious talk. The only hope France and Germany, striving to resume ‘business-as-usual’ with Russia, will make sure Kremlin is not playing fools.