Security situation in the Donbas has been worsening in recent months. This was stated by Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and the Trilateral Contact Group on resolving the situation in the Donbas, Ambassador Heidi Grau, - Interfax-Ukraine reports.
"However, I have to note that the security situation continued to deteriorate over the recent months: in particular, the territory around the disengagement area near Zolote is turning into a hotspot. In addition, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission continues to record an increase in the use of heavy weapons", - Grau said in a statement.
She noted that a comprehensive ceasefire can be achieved provided that "the sides demonstrate the necessary political will, but the current consultations of the TCG participants do not allow us to reach practical solutions".
In addition, "pending procedural issues again prevented the Political Working Group from holding a formal session (from February 2021)".
Once again, it was not possible to achieve progress on the issue of opening new entry-exit checkpoints in the settlements of Zolote and Shchastia of the Luhansk oblast.
At the same time, according to Grau, "participants in the Humanitarian Working Group exchanged updated lists of persons they are looking for. Besides, they discussed the 'procedural clearance' of those already released".
It was also possible to move forward in the discussion on the creation of an expert group to study the situation in the flooded mines along the contact line.
It is noted that the TCG meeting on July 21 was the last with the participation of Ambassador Grau. On August 1, she will be replaced by diplomat from Finland Mikko Kinnunen.