MOSCOW. Jan 14 (Interfax) - The shelling of a passenger bus near Volnovakha, the Donetsk region, may have a negative effect on the peace process in Donbas, says Denis Pushilin, the self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic (DPR) envoy in the Minsk negotiations.
"Of course, the incident as a whole is likely to have a negative effect on the peace process. This obviously was an act of provocation," Pushilin told Interfax.
However, DPR representatives are still prepared to travel to Minsk for negotiations after a date for them is set, he said.
"We are prepared to discuss preconditions for a peaceful settlement and other issues at a contact group meeting, and we are ready to travel to Minsk, although the date has not yet been set," he said.
The Ukrainian authorities had reported that 11 people were killed and 17 others wounded as a bus came under fire near Volnovakha on Tuesday. The government and the militia have put the blame for the incident on each other.