Press Statement of Special Representative Sajdik with regard to the decision of the Trilateral Contact Group on the start of the withdrawal of forces and hardware in Petrivske

KYIV, 8 November, 2019 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made today the following statement to the press with regard to the decision of the TCG on the start of the withdrawal of forces and hardware in the area of Petrivske:

“I welcome the decision of the Trilateral Contact Group, taken with the participation of representatives of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, to start the renewed withdrawal of forces and hardware at the disengagement area of Petrivske on 9 November 2019 at 12:00 (Kyiv time).

In my press statement of 4 November this year, I urged the sides, “encouraged by the progress in Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote, to do everything necessary for re-launching the process of disengagement in the area of Petrivske as soon as possible”.

At the same time, I would like to underline the constructive work of the sides, which, in the absence of an initial consensus on the disengagement date in Petrivske area, were nevertheless able to find common ground for the beginning of such withdrawal, based on the understanding that it should be fulfilled in a mirror-like and synchronous manner.

Highly appreciating this important step in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in the east of Ukraine, I am convinced that the fulfilment of the obligations under the TCG Framework decision relating to disengagement of forces and hardware will serve as a confidence building measure for the sides and advance negotiations.”