KYIV – The results of the Normandy format summit that brought together the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany on December 9 – for the first time in over three years – have been greeted with cautious optimism for having reactivated the stalled negotiations based on the Minsk accords of 2014-2015 to end Russia’s war in the Donbas.
Without giving way on fundamental issues, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy managed to secure agreement on an exchange of all prisoners, a commitment to a general ceasefire and a follow-up meeting within four months. However, many political issues related to the future of eastern Ukrainian regions now controlled by joint Russian-separatist forces remained unresolved.
The nervously awaited summit that took place in Paris was preceded by much speculation and concern in Ukraine and beyond about what it might produce, and mass rallies throughout Ukraine warned against “capitulation” to Russia.