“We confirmed that we are ready [for the meeting] and do everything possible to hold the Contact Group meeting in Minsk this week. I expect it to take place,” the official told reporters.
In April, Kiev forces launched a military operation against independence supporters in eastern Ukraine, who refused to recognize the legitimacy of a new government that came to power following a February coup. According to UN data, the confrontation has claimed the lives of over 4,300 people.
Moscow So Far Not Considering New 'Normandy Format' Meeting on Ukraine Crisis
“This issue is not being considered,” Ushakov said.
Talks on Ukrainian reconciliation have been conducted in four formats so far — the Minsk format, the Geneva format, the Weimar format and the Normandy format.
The Minsk format has been lauded by both Kiev and Moscow as it allows for the participation of representatives from the eastern Ukrainian self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's republics, whereas the other formats only allow Kiev to be present.
The latest meeting of the Contact Group on the Ukrainian crisis, comprising representatives from Ukraine, the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's republics (DPR, LPR), Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), was held in Belarusian capital Minsk on September 5.
The sides reached a ceasefire agreement, with provisions for its implementation being agreed on during the next round of Minsk talks that took place on September 19.
However, since then both sides have accused each other of violating the truce.
Last week, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that the next meeting on the situation in eastern Ukraine will be held in Minsk on December 9. However, the DPR has suggested holding the meeting on December 12, while LPR head Igor Plotnitsky told RIA Novosti on Saturday that the final date for the talks had not yet been set.
Earlier on Monday, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the country has made all the necessary preparations for the event.
