Steinmeier sees Minsk agreements as basis for peaceful settlement

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 16:43 (EET) Section: Latest news

The Minsk agreements should remain the basis for continuing the dialogue on the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said this after a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday, while answering journalists’ questions, a Ukrinform correspondent reported.
“I think that the Minsk agreements envisage the resolution of a number of complex issues that need to be resolved. They include the release of prisoners and the demilitarization of the military zone, regaining control over the border. And it is necessary to work hard on this,” Steinmeier said, adding that this was discussed at his meeting with the head of state.
He said that during his meeting with Poroshenko the sides had discussed ways to prevent the return to a huge confrontation that existed in July and August.
He also described the situation in eastern Ukraine as “very difficult and menacing, which, unfortunately, is getting complicated.”
Steinmeier thanked Poroshenko for the opportunity to exchange views.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, in turn, thanked Steinmeier for his consistent active pro-Ukrainian position that he demonstrated during yesterday’s meeting of the EU foreign ministers.