President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, during a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, confirmed his readiness to observe the ceasefire. This was reported on February 20 by the press service of the Elysee Palace.
“The exchange of views took place immediately after the conversation between the president (Macron – Ed.) and the president [России Владимиром] Putin. The President of the Republic once again welcomed the composure of the interlocutor and his determination to prevent escalation. President Zelensky reaffirmed his determination not to react to provocations and to respect the ceasefire,” the publication says.
The leaders’ talk took place earlier in the day. Zelensky during the conversation called for the urgent convening of a trilateral contact group on a settlement in Donbass.
Also on Sunday, telephone conversations between Putin and Macron took place. The leaders, according to the Elysee Palace, agreed to resume the work of the Normandy format and in the next few hours to achieve a meeting of the trilateral contact group in connection with the aggravation of the situation in Donbass.
According to the Kremlin, the presidents expressed concern over the sharp deterioration of the situation on the line of contact in the Donbass. The Russian leader pointed out that the reason for the escalation is the provocations of the Ukrainian security forces. Putin also drew attention to the “pumping” of Ukraine with weapons by NATO countries.
The Investigative Committee of Russia opened two criminal cases on the facts of wounding and death of civilians as a result of shelling by the armed forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the Donbass. According to the investigation, on February 20, Ukrainian security forces carried out massive shelling with the use of heavy weapons and grenade launchers of several settlements of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR).
Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov warned the participants in the conflict about irreparable consequences amid tensions in the Donbass. He stressed that all the existing statements of the West about the mythical desire of Russia to invade the territory of Ukraine only exacerbate the situation. The Kremlin spokesman also pointed to the unwillingness of the Kiev authorities to implement the Minsk agreements.
In recent days, the situation on the line of resistance in the Donbass has escalated significantly. The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics reported heavy shelling by Ukrainian security forces, including heavy weapons. A general mobilization and evacuation of the civilian population in the Russian Federation has been announced. The Russian side continues to emphasize that the de-escalation in Donbas does not depend on its actions.