Russia Decides To Recall Its Representatives From JCCC On December 19

The Russian Federation has decided to recall its representatives from the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of the ceasefire regime in Donbas on December 19.

Press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Russia has said this in a statement, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"Further work of the representation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the JCCC has become impossible. On December 19, 2017, Russian officers-participants in the JCCC will leave the territory of Ukraine," the report said.

Respective decision was taken in view of the new order of entrance to Ukraine for the citizens of the Russian Federation from January 1, 2018.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on August 30, President Petro Poroshenko urged the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to consider by November 2017 the mechanism and stages of introduction of entry/exit for foreigners, including citizens of Russia, to/from Ukraine using biometric passports as well as obliging foreigners and stateless persons to electronically inform about their intention to visit Ukraine beforehand.

Besides, Poroshenko urged the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to ensure functioning (starting January 1, 2018) of the national system for biometric verification and identification of Ukrainian citizens, foreigners and stateless persons, by solving the issue of required provision of registration of biometric data of foreigners, including citizens of Russia, at border checking.

In mid-December, the Cabinet of Ministers said it had not information about the state of implementation of the aforementioned presidential decree.