DONETSK, December 3 (Sputnik) – The self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk (DPR and LPR) in Ukraine's southeast insist on the resumption of the reconciliation talks with Kiev, the leaders of the republics said in a joint statement Wednesday.
“The DPR and LPR have long been insisting on the resumption of the Minsk process,” the statement reads. “If the meeting takes place, we will insist on implementing the law on special status of the Donbas region.”
The Ukrainian crisis escalated in April, when Kiev authorities launched a military operation against independence supporters in eastern Ukraine.
The warring sides reached a ceasefire deal in Minsk on September 5 at a Contact Group meeting comprising representatives from Kiev, the DPR and LPR, Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
However, Kiev and the self-proclaimed republics have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
