On 16th of May 2019 the Razumkov Centre organized the International Round-Table Discussion on “Donbas Conflict Resolution: Progress Report and a Way Forward (Proposals for a New Administration)”.

The representatives of the corresponding ministries and agencies, researches, Ukrainian and foreign experts and representatives of foreign embassies and international organizations took part in the discussion. Former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst and former Principle Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Alexander Hug were among participants. The dependence of sanctions on implementation by Russia the Minsk Agreement were examined as well as the options to increase pressure on Russia. As the Project Director Myhaylo Pashkov has noted, no radical changes were expected in the nearest future. The main component of Donbas Conflict Resolution consists of making by the Ukrainian authorities their own agenda, negotiations with the aggressor-state only with the involvement of international intermediaries, new anti-Russian sanctions and Ukraine defence strengthening.

The analytical publication made by the group of experts by the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands was presented in the Project framework. The research topic are as follows:

• Ukraine’s Policy Towards Russia after the Presidential Election;
• The New Authority in Ukraine: Window of Opportunity for Resolving the Donbas Conflict or Maintaining the Status Quo;
• The Situation in Donbas in the Context of Geopolitical Dynamics;
• Peacekeeping Mission in Donbas: Probability and Possibilities;
• Policy Recommendations for Future Steps in the Domestic and International Fields to Resolve (Minimize the Negative Consequences of) the Conflict in the East of Ukraine.