Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko has announced the beginning of the withdrawal of troops in Zolote. He reported this to journalists in Mariupol today, - correspondent of OstroV reports.
"It is happening In Zolote right now (the troops withdrawal, - OstroV), we start today… We were late because not just the withdrawal was needed, but also its confirmation and verification by the OSCE SMM", - he said.
"It (withdrawal in Zolote, - OstroV) has just begun. The OSCE SMM was preparing yesterday, brought in additional troops, this is their task, how to ensure it. We do not intervene in this, we want this process to be absolutely neutral and transparent", - the minister added.
According to Prystaiko, this is a controlled withdrawal of troops, and Ukrainian troops will be able to return to their positions at any time.
"This is not such a distant withdrawal, so that we could not return back (the positions, - OstroV)", - he noted.
"Petrovske will be the next", - the MFA head said.
The minister also added that the Normandy format meeting would take place after the troops' withdrawal in Zolote and Petrovske.