New Donbas road map outlined by French foreign minister

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called upon the Ukrainian government to fulfill political conditions of the Minsk Accords following the establishment of the latest cease-fire in the Donbas war during a Sept. 14 press conference. After a meeting in Kyiv with his counterparts from Germany and Ukraine, he outlined a road map to fulfilling the agreement consisting of three stages. The first involves a cease-fire, removing forces from three zones, signing an agreement to start the separation of sides in Donbas, and preparing bills on local elections and establishing the special status, he said, referring to the planned de facto autonomy.

The second phase will consist of Ukraine’s parliament approving this legislation, expanding the arms-free zones, removing and monitoring heavy arms, taking steps to ensure observers’ access to Donbas, and creating mobile OSCE bases, he said. The third phase will be approving and organizing elections, approving constitutional reforms, approving amnesty legislation, freeing hostages, removing forces from all along the frontlines, creating new mobile bases, and full access to the border.

Zenon Zawada: Now Klimkin has the new road map he’s been asking for. But certain key details are still unclear, particular the schedule for restoring Ukrainian control of the border within this road map. The civilized world hopes this latest attempt will succeed, but as we’ve stated before, the will of the Russian government is doubtful. Moreover, we are confident the Kremlin is eagerly awaiting the results of the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election and not making any concessions until then.