MOSCOW. Oct 7 (Interfax) - Self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Purgin does not rule out an economic association with Ukraine alongside the political sovereignty of Donbas.
"We would like to preserve the economic and socio-cultural space with Ukraine. It could possibly be a sort of economic association or even an offshore zone status granted to Donbas. Everything will depend on future agreements," Purgin told Interfax on Tuesday.
He said, in the opinion of the DPR administration, the construction of new defensive structures along the line of contact between the militia and the Ukrainian army was unnecessary.
"We do not think that the construction of any additional elements, walls or the like, makes any sense. This is a totally stupid thing to do in the contemporary world. State sovereignty is determined by a relevant political will rather than isolation and borders. The people are a source of this sovereignty. Certainly, many of them have families in Ukraine and we do not want to create impediments to these people's free movement and communication with their nearest and dearest," Purgin said.