Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak met with the ambassadors of the G7 countries and informed them about the security situation in Donbas and along Ukraine’s borders, the presidential press service said.
“First of all, Andriy Yermak informed the diplomats about the security situation in Donbas and near the borders of Ukraine, as well as about the progress of negotiations on ending the war and establishing peace, including at the level of political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy Format member states,” the President’s Office said.
Yermak said that on April 19, at a video conference of advisers, due to Russia’s position, it was not possible to come to an agreement on the text of a joint statement in support of the ceasefire restoration in Donbas. On the other hand, on April 20, the working group of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on security issues practically agreed on the full text with the additions of the Ukrainian side on measures to support the ceasefire.
“I hope that we will be able to find a way out so that through the mediation of the OSCE SMM we can effectively control violations of the ceasefire. The Ukrainian side also proposed that the TCG security group, of course, meet in cases where shelling in Donbas would result in the death of people. We believe that there should be stricter responsibility for sniper attacks,”Yermak said.
In addition, the President’s Office head said the process of mutual release of the detained persons is not moving.
“Ukraine has said that we are ready to hand over five people on the eve of Easter. These are mainly women and patients. Unfortunately, we have not heard anything from the other side,” he said.
He also said Ukraine is demanding and waiting for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian borders, and for this, diplomatic pressure from the G7 countries is important.
According to him, “the support from the G7 countries of Ukraine’s path to the EU and NATO is also extremely important.”
Yermak said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “intends to reset the Constitutional Court.”
“For this purpose, on April 20, the head of state signed a decree on the creation of a competition committee for the selection of candidates for the posts of judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine according to the president’s quota,” he said.
It is noted that Yermak appealed to the G7 Ambassadors with a request to propose world-renowned constitutional lawyers from their countries who could take part in the work of this committee.
In turn, Deputy Head of the President’s Office Yulia Svyrydenko told the diplomats that the reform of the State Concern Ukroboronprom provides for the creation of two large holdings and the corporatization of the enterprises that make up its structure.
Deputy Head of the President’s Office Andriy Smyrnov announced the preparation of a law within the judicial reform, providing for the creation of a disciplinary agency separate from the High Council of Justice, leaving the High Council of Justice with insignificant powers. Preparations are underway for the adoption at second reading of amendments to the law on the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
