To connect the US to the Normandy format, Kiev will have to ask Putin’s permission

Continuing to speculate on the idea of ​​the United States joining the Normandy format to resolve the conflict in Donbass, Kiev acknowledged that the implementation of such a scenario requires a consensus of the current negotiator.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin give a press conference after a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris, December 9, 2019. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS

Although the American authorities have shown no desire to be responsible for ending the conflict, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba believes that US participation in the Normandy format will be “useful and effective”. True, in order to turn the “Norman Four” into the “Five”, Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine must come to a unanimous decision.

That is, Kiev will have to make a deal with Moscow.

“To change the Normandy format, the consent of all its participants is required”, – Kuleba admitted.

“Undoubtedly, even more active involvement of the United States in the issue of ending Russian “aggression” and “de-occupation” of our territories will be very useful and effective. But in what format it can take place is a matter of diplomacy”.