Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss the need to de-escalate tensions in Donbas immediately after four Ukrainian servicemen were killed in an attack near Shumy, Donetsk region, on March 26, Zelensky’s press secretary Yulia Mendel said.
“The request for negotiations was submitted immediately after the death of four servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, back on March 26,” Mendel told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.
According to the press secretary, “at present, there has been no positive response to the request.”
As reported, four Ukrainian servicemen of a demining group were killed on March 26 in the area of the Shumy settlement of Donetsk region as a result of shelling attacks by snipers, another two soldiers were injured.
On March 30, the presidents of France, Germany and Russia discussed the security situation in Donbas via videoconference within the Normandy format, without the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. As a result of the negotiations, the leaders of Germany and France called on the Russian President to promote a ceasefire in Donbas. In turn, Vladimir Putin said that only Kyiv was involved in the escalation.
Next week, it is planned to hold a bilateral meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and France to discuss the settlement of the situation and reduce the level of escalation in Donbas.
