Kurt Walker: the Kremlin is in no hurry to resolve the conflict in the Donbass

Russia is in no hurry with the peaceful settlement of the conflict in the east of Ukraine. Such a statement was made by the special representative of the US State Department for Ukraine Kurt Volker.

In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Walker noted that the presence of the Russian military and the ongoing conflict in the Donbass created enormous difficulties for millions of people. According to the special representative, one and a half million inhabitants of the region were in the position of refugees, and those living in the conflict zone are faced with serious humanitarian problems.

Commenting on the possible holding of elections in the self -proclaimed "Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics", Volker emphasized that the elections will be illegitimate. The republics themselves, according to the special representative, do not have the future within the framework of the Minsk agreements and as territorial units they should not exist.

Volker also suggested that Moscow would not make new attempts to settle the armed conflict, waiting for elections in Ukraine in 2019.

The special representative noted that Washington is concerned about the situation and an increase in the number of warships in the Sea of Azov. He also mentioned that Russia in the "aggressive manner" is checking Ukrainian vessels going to Ukrainian ports there. Walker announced the readiness of the United States to help Ukraine in strengthening defense capabilities.

Since 2014, more than 10 thousand people became victims of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of local residents were forced to leave their homes. The United States and Western countries accuse Russia of supporting separatists in the Donbass. Moscow rejects its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.