Poroshenko named Ukraine's priorities for the current year

The Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko stated that he expects the eastern territories to return under Ukraine's control by the end of the year. At the same time, he said he hopes to establish movement mechanisms that would lead to the 'de-occupation' of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.

Speaking in Kyiv at his first press conference of the new year, Poroshenko stated that he would use all legal means and diplomatic measures to resolve the conflict in Donbas.

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'Ukrainian sovereignty in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions must be restored this year', he said.

Speaking about the problem of Crimea, Poroshenko expressed his desire to propose 'the establishment of an international mechanism for the de-occupation of the peninsula.'

Poroshenko's comments followed a day after negotiations among representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The parties agreed to resume efforts to maintain a ceasefire in Ukraine. More than 9,000 people have been killed since pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings in April 2014, after Russia annexed Crimea.

Russia sent its representative, Boris Gryzlov, to the meeting in Kyiv. Poroshenko did not confirm information that he held direct negotiations with Gryzlov but said he would be willing to meet anyone to end the conflict.

The issue of sanctions for the Russian Federation

Political analysts say that Gryzlov's visit, a former parliamentary speaker, shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to see some progress on the Minsk agreements.

'He [Putin] understands the need to ease the tense relations between Russia and the European Union, which will ultimately lead to the weakening and then lifting of EU sanctions against Russia, thus changing the overall climate in EU-Russia relations,' said Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. - Now, in order to be able to do this, he must complete the Minsk process by implementing the agreement.

The Minsk agreements have not been implemented so far due to major sticking points between the parties. Ukrainian politicians disagree on the degree of autonomy of the areas seized by the rebels, while the separatists do not want to return control of the border with Russia to Ukraine.

John Herbst, head of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council and former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, says it is unclear how far Putin is willing to go in implementing the agreement.

'If the Minsk agreement is implemented, despite many shortcomings, the war in eastern Ukraine will come to an end because Russia will not be able to continue supporting it,' he said.

Putin has repeatedly denied direct Russian involvement in the conflict but acknowledged in December that Russia sent 'people who carried out certain tasks, including in the military sphere' there.

Trenin noted that Putin wants full autonomy for Donbas, enshrined in the Ukrainian constitution, so that the region has the right to veto any future efforts to join NATO, the Western military alliance; but Ukrainian leaders are unlikely to agree to this.

Seeking a way out

Gryzlov's visit to Kyiv may also demonstrate that the Kremlin is seeking a new way out of the situation.

Experts believe Moscow hoped that by reducing violence, Russia could ease sanctions in January, which did not happen. However, Russia's policy has not yet succeeded in Eastern Ukraine. Such a deadlock situation means that, at best, there will be a frozen conflict in Donbas.

Trenin believes that Donbas will ultimately rejoin Ukraine, but Russia will never give up Crimea.