Achievements and Limitations of the OSCE ’s Special Monitoring Mission to UkraineUmland, A.June 20

© 2020 The Swedish Institute of International Affairs Introduction The Mandate and Role of the SMM in the Minsk Negotiations Since 2014, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been Established even before the outbreak of the playing a central role in attempts to resolve first armed confrontations in the Donbas in of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in the mid-April 2014,. [...] The Donbas-related and fourth points of the Minsk Protocol Minsk format began in the early autumn of assign the OSCE the task of monitoring the 2014 and brings together Ukraine, Russia ceasefire and the Russian-Ukrainian and the OSCE in the above-mentioned TCG. [...] Despite repeated requests by the Mission and the raising of the issue by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and the The major problem of the SMM, however, is SMM Chief Monitor at the OSCE that, in spite of its mandate and clear task to Permanent Council (PC), these monitor the entire Donbas conflict zone, the restrictions were not eased and SMM still has incomplete access to large problems remained th. [...] OSCE participating state, are part of the staff on a permanent basis, in spite of the fact That said, the effectiveness of the SMM’s that the Kremlin was the original instigator observation activity over the years has of and continues to drive the conflict. [...] These structures such an operation, in close could become more involved in the cooperation with the Ukrainian monitoring and reporting of state, the SMM, the ODIHR, ReoM, violations of OSCE commitments in the HCNM and the CoE, would be to the non-government-controlled ensure Russian troop withdrawal areas while also cooperating more and Ukraine’s full control over its closely with the SMM, the Uni.