- Denis Davydov, Rossiya TV channel. Let me ask about Ukraine.
- Go ahead.
- Not that long ago, Nursultan Nazarbayev stated he was ready to facilitate the organization of your meeting with Vladimir Zelensky... But we also know the Kremlin's clear position — meetings for the sake of meetings are unnecessary. But if we speak about the new administration of Ukraine, maybe it's better to meet and talk? And a follow-up question about the separation of forces in Donbass. It finally happened. It was difficult, but it did happen. In your opinion, what are the predictions for the settlement of this conflict going forward? Is the Normandy Format meeting possible in the nearest time or before New Year's? And, if we're being optimistic, will you perhaps have a personal meeting with Zelensky? Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: First, as for the initiative of Nursultan Nazarbayev... He's a very respectable man; we have very close, friendly relations. He's a very skilled politician. By the way, he lived in Ukraine for a long time. He knows this country well. And treats it with great sympathy. And he always communicates his regard for Ukraine to me. That's why it doesn't surprise me at all. He always acted on the premise that Ukraine must pursue happiness not overseas... Over the ocean a calf costs half, but it is dear (expensive) to ship it here. Do you know such a saying? So they should pursue happiness not overseas or across the ocean but negotiate with their neighbors. That's also a good approach. But the matter is... No one is talking about a Normandy Format meeting because we've already agreed to meet in the Normandy Format. And, since we'll be meeting, why bother making a fuss and going around unprepared meetings here? I think nobody's interested in that, neither me nor President Zelensky. After all, we need to come to a result. We're actually in touch, we have phone talks. We're keeping in touch completely, but we need to reach some solutions. Notionally, the Normandy Format and the meeting in this format are possible. Generally, there isn't another mechanism besides the Normandy Format, that's why we — I mean Russia, my colleagues and I, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and such agencies — we're in favor of preserving it. Let me repeat, there are no alternatives. And none are on the horizon. The fact that the separation of forces took place in those two crucial points is a good thing. We welcome that. We welcome both the actions of the Ukrainian authorities and the actions of the unrecognized republics.
However, some ambiguities immediately occur. We see the statement, for example, of Ukraine's Foreign Minister, who said that Ukraine might even renounce the Minsk Agreements. How does that work? What are we going to discuss in the Normandy Format then? What can we speak about in that case? I don't really understand. It's the first example. As for the second... We see statements of their officials who say that the zone from where the troops and heavy weaponry will be withdrawn or have already been withdrawn, to be more accurate, may be revisited by other armed groups — Ukraine's police, National Guard... But then, the same actions will be taken by the militia of the LPR and DPR. Is it necessary if the troops had already left? I don't think so.
And finally, the most important matter. I'd like to draw your attention to it, and the attention of all my colleagues present here. It's an absolutely key matter. We hear from Ukraine's top officials that another law on the special status for Donbass may be adopted. Which one? After all, it's an absolutely key issue. If something is adopted, something that isn't coordinated with the LPR and DPR, then everything will instantly reach a deadlock. After all, the whole point of the Steinmeier formula, which doesn't have any content and is just a tool for adopting and implementing the law on the special status for Donbass after holding the municipal election... There's no significant content; it's just a formula that doesn't fully comply with the Minsk agreements, but we went for it. It's a compromise from our side. We've agreed to it. If only there was something to move forward... So, what's the use of this formula if the law itself on the special status isn't there? We need this formula for implementing the law. And another very important circumstance. This law on the special status for Donbass expires on December 31st. If it isn't prolonged... Actually, there was a time when the European partners raised an issue and directly asked Ukraine to make this law termless. Not for a year or two or three. And at the time, Poroshenko agreed to it. He said, "Yes, we must do it and we'll do it." He never did it. It expires on December 31st. What's next? What are we going to discuss in the Normandy Format? What will it be? It's actually a key issue.
However, something is surely being done. The separation, for instance. In two places. But you've got to understand, it should be done along the whole line. It's necessary to separate along the whole line so that the guns don't fire, so that people don't die. This surely needs to be done as soon as possible.
