Steinmeier: 'Minsk-2' is a step from war to politics

Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has commented on the completion of the negotiations in Minsk on his page on social networks.

"That night in Minsk was very long. The talks have been extremely difficult.

The most important thing is that Moscow and Kiev agreed on a ceasefire... we strengthened the Minsk accords of last September.

But for some this will not be enough. We also would have wished for more - but this is what the presidents of Ukraine and Russia could agree on.

I hope both sides had negotiated in good faith, and would decline from any action in the next days which could threaten the ceasefire agreement.

And after weeks of violence 'Minsk-2' may be a step that will lead us out of the spiral of military escalation to the political moment".