Russia to demand from Ukraine direct negotiations with "LDNR" at Normandy format summit - Lavrov

Russia will urge Kyiv to establish direct dialogue with representatives of CADLO at the Normandy format summit in Paris on December 9. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his lecture at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, - Interfax-Ukraine reoirts.

"We have heard the statements made by the previous Ukrainian administration, the previous regime, that they would never hold direct talks with Donetsk and Luhansk, and we have heard similar statements made by representatives of the incumbent administration of President Zelensky, in addition to other statements which not so much call into question as signify refusal to comply with the Minsk Agreements… As a member of the Normandy Four, Russia has formed the framework that formed the basis of the Minsk Agreements. These agreements involve the solution of all issues through direct negotiations between Kyiv, Donetsk and Luhansk. This (implementation of the agreements) depends, first of all, on these parties, which directly conflict in the east of Ukraine", - Lavrov said.

According to him, the parties will speak about all this at the Normandy format summit in Paris on December 9, and "Zelensky will have to give detailed account of his vision of his fulfillment of the Minsk Agreements there".

Lavrov claims that Russia cannot independently implement the Minsk Agreements, since it is "not their party".

The last Normandy format meeting at top level took place in October 2016.