MOSCOW. Oct 26 (Interfax) - The absence of the Minsk peace process would result in more casualties in the Ukrainian crisis, thereby, Donbas opposing sides should fulfil the agreements that have been reached, but they shouldn't think of resetting this process, Russian Special Envoy to the Contact Group on settlement of the Donbas crisis Boris Gryzlov said.
"In the absence of the Minsk process there would have been much more casualties. This is why, the consistent implementation of the agreements by all of the conflicting parties, rather than the 'reset', is needed. Neither the upcoming election, nor the results of the election will make the domestic Ukrainian dialogue unnecessary," Gryzlov told Interfax on Thursday, when asked about whether there is an alternative to the Minsk peace process and whether the reset of these efforts is possible against the backdrop of the lack of tangible breakthroughs in dialogue.
"The conclusion of the Minsk Agreements itself has been a breakthrough. Owing to their signing and development of the Minsk process large-scale hostilities were stopped," Gryzlov said.
A lot of lives were saved thanks to the Contact Group's efforts, he said.
"Unfortunately, the attempts to sabotage the Minsk Agreements, Kyiv's reluctance to maintain the political dialogue with Donbas, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' unwillingness to honor their commitments to withdraw heavy weaponry, all of these factors are contributing to tensions and unsteadiness and are leading to new casualties and deaths of civilians," he said.
Kyiv is not always ready to acknowledge that the Minsk peace process, which implies the political dialogue and the fulfillment of all of the commitments that have been taken up, has no alternative, he said.
"And one will be able to talk about the new stage, when the common sense will take the upper hand over the positions of the 'party of war,'" Gryzlov said.
"The Ukrainian 'party of war' is still staking on tensions in Donbas, as they no longer need voters, who live in Donbas cities and villages," he said.