Kiev has pulled up to the contact line 70000 troops, the head of the DPR Alexander Zakharchenko said on July 18. Thus, Kiev isn’t ready for any steps to demilitarise Donbass, the expanding of the military presence cannot be an evidence of the Kiev’s will of a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
“As of now, over 70,000 Ukrainian military are along the line of engagement, and every day the number is growing,” the head of the DPR said.
Zakharchenko also said the parties to talks in Minsk had not included in the Minsk agreement withdrawal of weapons under 100 millimetres as Ukraine was not inclined to demilitarise the line of engagement.
“At the last meeting in Minsk we discussed withdrawal of weapons. Ukraine rejected the agreement saying tanks and mortars should remain there,” he added.
