President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stresses that the troops separation in the area of Zolote and Petrivske in Donbas is possible only in seven days of silence and if all parties are ready to do so.
The President of Ukraine answered journalists' questions after negotiations with President of Latvia Egils Levits in Riga. The Head of State said that the troops separation in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska had gone well. He also mentioned that the new bridge had been built there.
"I think this is the right decision from the point of view of the humanitarian track," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
"If there will be seven days of silence, if all, not just our side, is ready for the troops separation. We will be ready to discuss the next steps," the President of Ukraine explained.
He stressed that silence has been stored for two days in the area of Zolote and Petrivske. Unfortunately two Ukrainian soldiers, including a young woman, were killed in the past day because of shelling in other parts of the front.
"This is a big tragedy for all Ukrainians," the President said.
The Head of State reminded that the troops separation in the area of Zolote and Petrivske should be the second step in achieving sustainable peace in Donbas. The first step was the mutual release of detained persons.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized once again that the so-called Steinmeier Formula just regulated the law on the special status of Donbas.
"You know that this law (on the special status of Donbas. - Ed.) is valid until December 31 of this year. Steinmeier Formula will be implemented in the new law on the special status if we meet in the Normandy format, and if all parties agree the further regulation. If all parties, and the Russian side, want to stop this terrible tragedy, we can talk about the implementation of the Steinmeier Formula in the law on the special status if we agree on it," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
He also noted that the draft law on the special status of Donbas will be extensively discussed, in particular in the Ukrainian Parliament.
