Russia: Lavrov reaffirms will for united Ukraine, with Donbass special status

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov briefed press on the Foreign Ministry's views on the control of the border in the southeast of Ukraine, saying it will be restored only after "the end of the process of decentralisation," which was an agreement made in Minsk, from Moscow, Friday. This should be consolidated, Lavrov said, with "the final permanent special status of Donbass." The Russian foreign minister also spoke of the necessity of the removal of weapons of calibre less than 120 millimetres from the Ukrainian conflict zone. Greater autonomy for Donbass was a key component of the Minsk agreements and granting special status to the region has been a central issue for the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine. Leaders of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR see special status for the region as key to de-escalating tensions in the east of the country.