Merkel fails to make Minsk Accords progress in meeting with Putin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel continued to try to achieve Ukrainian access to its border with Russia on the occupied territory, as well as hold local elections in Donbas but didn’t succeed, she told a May 2 press conference following her meeting with Russian President Putin in Sochi. Merkel said she’s dissatisfied with the current tendencies of occupied Donbas being separated from Ukraine and called for the return of nationalized enterprises and an end to blockades, local news agencies reported. She said she doesn’t support drafting a new peace agreement for the conflict in eastern Ukraine, nor does she support replacing OSCE monitors with those from the United Nations.

In his turn, Putin said the Ukrainian government lost its chance to fulfill the Minsk Accords, which he said became “far more modest” owing to the “economic, domestic political situation” in Ukraine. Yet he called upon continuing efforts in the Normandy Format and Minsk Accords.

Zenon Zawada: That Putin still wants to resolve this conflict within the existing diplomatic framework (Normandy, Minsk) – which has thoroughly exhausted itself – confirms that the West and Ukraine have played directly into his hands. Not only has he held onto Crimea and withstood the sanctions for three years, but he is currently gaining full control of the Donbas territory without having to bear financial burdens such as pension payments or infrastructure repairs.

That Merkel still tried to reach some progress with Putin within the Minsk format confirms Western leaders have no ability to resolve this conflict. Her refusal to consider other diplomatic mechanisms confirms talks between the West and Putin are at a dead end, with Putin slipping away with control of Donbas amid the diplomatic stalemate.

We expect Russia to continue its strategy of stalling hapless Western leaders, furthering his control of Donbas, extending the low-level warfare and exhausting Ukrainian resources. Of course, a theoretical victory for Marine Le Pen in France this Sunday will be an enormous boost to Putin.