Impossible to Discuss Armed Donbass Mission Without Info on OSCE’s Stance

It is impossible to discuss the formation of an armed mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to Donbass without the organization voicing its stance on the issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Following marathon talks with Russian, German and French leaders in Berlin on October 19, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko claimed that Moscow had agreed with the need to deploy an armed OSCE mission in Donbass.

“It is hardly possible to discuss some details, [the mission's potential] strength, without information on OSCE's capabilities, stance and approach. Perhaps such practice would be new because there have been almost no precedents. As far as we know, the OSCE has not stated its approach to this initiative, voiced by President [of Ukraine Petro] Poroshenko,” Peskov told journalists.

He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed with this initiative despite restrained reaction of German and French leaders.

“But there is an understanding that the main role [in making the decision whether to deploy such a mission] must be played by the OSCE itself,” Peskov added.