Zelensky outlines next Donbas peace steps amid lingering questions

Local elections in occupied Donbas are possible only once
Russian forces are withdrawn and only in accordance with Ukrainian law,
President Zelensky told a press briefing on Sept. 13. “This is an issue of
first exchanging people, then afterwards the withdrawal of armies,” he said.
“Now we are talking about withdrawals from Zolote and Petrivske. Only
afterwards will we talk about withdrawal of armies along the whole territory.
That’s 400 km. Only after that will we be able to talk about an elections
format on the occupied territories.” The same evening, Ukrainian Foreign
Minister Vadym Prystaiko said in a television interview that the Steinmeier
formula takes no position on the withdrawal of armies, only the holding
elections. “The Steinmeier formula is truly quite simple,” he said. “It
discusses what way the law on the special status on this territory – which
currently exists and expires at the end of this year – will take effect.”

Recall, Ukraine’s parliament has had to approve
annually legislation designating special conditions of governance in occupied
Donbas, in accordance with the Minsk Accords, but proposals to amend the
Constitution, which have been under consideration, have never had enough
support in Ukraine. In remarks to the annual Yalta European Strategy conference
in Kyiv on Sept. 14, Prystaiko confirmed the Zelensky administration’s position
opposing constitutional amendments to establishing Donbas special status, which
Russia has been insisting upon. “We turn the attention of the Russians and
we’re ready to read this norm for them again – it’s written in Russian, by the
way – that Ukraine took upon itself the requirement of creating a status for
these regions on the basis of decentralization,” Prystaiko said. “It’s that
process of decentralization that is already being implemented in Ukraine.”

Contrary to Prystaiko’s comments on the withdrawal of
armies however, the pravda.com.ua news site reported on Sept. 13 that the
Steinmeier formula calls for parliamentary approval of constitutional
amendments granting special status to the Donbas region, with the simultaneous
holding of local elections there, only after which Russia would remove its
soldiers and hardware. In addition, U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker
confirmed the Steinmeier formula requires the withdrawal of Russian forces
before elections are held. Also, all Russian-backed military units must be
dissolved and stability must be renewed, he said. “The Steinmeier formula
begins with the elections, but first we must get to the point of holding free
elections,” he said in an interview with the Zelensky-friendly 1+1 television
network broadcast on Sept. 15.

Ukraine should use the Steinmeier formula to fulfill
the Minsk Accords, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Miroslav Lajcak told the annual
Yalta European Strategy conference on Sept. 14. “We have a principle on how to
read the Minsk (Accords). It’s the Steinmeier plan, and I believe this is a
nice basis,” he said, as reported by the pravda.com.ua news site.