On 16 September, the EU said that it “deeply regretted” the decision by the Russian Federation not to agree to an extension of the mandate of the Border Observation Mission to Gukovo and Donetsk, in Ukraine, beyond 30 September.
“This is an unfortunate political signal confirming Russia’s lack of political will to contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict”, the EU said in a statement to the OSCE Permanent Council. It added that the end of the mission was “a clear step backwards when it comes to finding a peaceful resolution” to the conflict.
The EU stated that this mission was an “important confidence-building measure”, informing participating States of the situation on the ground.
“Effective and comprehensive monitoring of this border is crucial for a sustainable political solution to the conflict in line with the Minsk agreements and an integral part of the efforts aimed at fostering stability and security in the region”, stressed the EU.
The mission had been active since 2014. (Original version in French by Camillle-Cerise Gessant)