The  Russian President's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said that Vladislav Surkov would represent Russia at the meeting of presidential assistants in the Norman format.

‘Assistants will gather in Minsk, there will be Surkov from the Russian Federation,’ said Peskov. 

He also noted that the situation in Donbass was aggravated by provocative actions of the Ukrainian armed forces. 

‘It is aggravated by the fact that due to the continuing tension, the parties are still unable to withdraw heavy weapons, as was prescribed by the agreements reached earlier. While there is no ceasefire, there is no silence regime,’ said Peskov. 

In addition, he believes that the blockade of Donbass aggravates the situation economically. 

‘This list is crowned with a fiasco in terms of implementing the Minsk Agreements, with Kiev's reluctance to implement the political part of these agreements,’ Peskov added.

According to: Информационное агенство News Front