Press Statement of Special Representative Kinnunen after the regular Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on 26 January 2022

KYIV, 26 January 2022 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

“Today the TCG met for its first session of the year. During its last meeting, on 22 December  the participants expressed their determination to fully adhere to the ceasefire agreement of 22 July 2020. Even though ceasefire violations decreased by more than 70 %, compared to last month, the commitment has not been sufficiently implemented. 

Participants of the Security Working Group engaged into discussions on security guarantees, additional measures to the ceasefire and a coordination mechanism. However, differences in their positions remain.

I welcome that the Political Working Group was able to discuss a number of substantive issues, pertaining to decentralisation and political settlement of the conflict.

The coordinator of the Humanitarian Working Group informed about her recent trip to the conflict affected areas on both sides of the contact line. During the session, participants discussed possible modalities for the opening of crossing points and future release and exchange of conflict-related detainees.

Economic Working Group discussed matters related to water supply and ecological hazards linked to flooding of mines along the line of contact.

In response to the request by the Chair of the OSCE, Turkey has preliminarily offered Istanbul as a potential venue for the TCG meetings, provided that there is consensus. For this, I express my gratitude to Turkey. I informed participants of the discussions about this opportunity to return to in-person meetings. I am convinced that face-to-face meetings will enhance the quality and confidentiality of our discussions.”