Luhansk republic says ready for compromise on disengagement line at talks with Kiev
The authorities of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic are ready to discuss all the controversial issues with Kiev, including the disengagement line, the republic’s negotiator at Minsk talks Vladislav Deinego said on Thursday, the Russian news agency TASS reported.
"We are ready to talk with the Ukrainian side, coordinate and discuss all the controversial issues. We are ready for compromises," Vladislav Deinego said.
At the Minsk talks of the Contact Group on January 31, the sides failed to agree mainly due to disputes over the disengagement line. Deinego said Kiev doesn’t like the level of the representation at talks and also the line from which heavy weaponry needs to be withdrawn.
"In my opinion, weaponry should be withdrawn from any disengagement line existing at the current moment and then sit down at the negotiating table. But the shellings should end as soon as possible," Deinego said.
The Ukrainian side, in its turn, opposed the actual disengagement line, insisting on the line as of September 19, he said.
In a joint statement earlier this week, the Donetsk and Lugansk republics’ leaders said militias plan no offensive operations and are ready to stop at the existing disengagement line.