Vladislav Surkov (L) and Kurt Volker (R). Photos by TASS, Reuters
US Special Representative Kurt Volker and Russian Presidential Representative Vladislav Surkov met in Belgrade November 13 to discuss the war in Donbass. It was their third meeting.
It is not surprising that the United States and Russia have different concepts for how to make peace, but we will continue to work to get there. There has always been a need for a combination of political and security measures to be taken under Minsk. Both sides agreed to reflect on the discussions today and to think about further ways to address this challenge.
Surkov said that Volker presented 29 paragraphs containing its response to the Russian plan for peace-keeping, which only involved guarding OSCE monitors near the front line.
The US has demanded that the peace-keepers be able to go anywhere in eastern Ukraine including separatist-held areas.
As often occurs during peace talks, Russia-backed forces pulled back their fire today, making only 14 ceasefire violations, and two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded, Liga.net reported.
In the previous reporting period, there were 33 ceasefire violations.
Ukrainian soldiers were detained in Popasnaya in Lugansk Region for beating a man.
National Police are investigating the incident said the ATO (Anti-Terrorist Operation).
-- Catherine A. Fitzpatrick