Lavrov: we preserve the purity of the Minsk Agreements in Berlin

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the foreign ministers of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine have reaffirmed their commitment to the agreements reached in Minsk, saying that it is necessary to fully implement the decision to withdraw the weapons," the Russian minister said.

have reaffirmed their commitment to the agreements reached in Minsk, saying that it is necessary to fully implement the decision to withdraw the weapons," the Russian minister said.The ministers also supported the withdrawal of less than 100 millimeter caliber arms and tanks from southeastern Ukraine. "We also supported the proposals put forward within the framework of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, regarding the fact that in addition to those types of weapons that need to be pulled out in accordance with the Minsk agreements, the question of weapons of a caliber less than 100 millimeters falling into this category is also being considered," TASS cited the Russian foreign minister.However, Lavrov highlighted the need for the Minsk agreement to be observed in its full capacity, not only its military aspect, but also its political, economic and humanitarian aspects. He also denounced Kiev’s ongoing economic blockade of the Donbass Region, where the central authorities refuse to pay pensions and provide social benefits, as “wrong” and “harmful” to the Minsk accords."We paid special attention, and it probably took more time than anything else, to take further practical steps to implement the agreements that the contact group, which includes Kiev, Lugansk, Donetsk, Russia and the OSCE, should form working subgroups on specific areas of settlement, including the military and security issues, issues of economic recovery of Donbass, humanitarian issues and political reforms, including, of course, constitutional reform. We call on the sides to immediately create working sub-groups as part of the Contact Group and agreed that there will be groups on political process, humanitarian issues, economic issues and an amnesty," Lavrov said.

 

The ministers also supported the withdrawal of less than 100 millimeter caliber arms and tanks from southeastern Ukraine. "We also supported the proposals put forward within the framework of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, regarding the fact that in addition to those types of weapons that need to be pulled out in accordance with the Minsk agreements, the question of weapons of a caliber less than 100 millimeters falling into this category is also being considered," TASS cited the Russian foreign minister.

However, Lavrov highlighted the need for the Minsk agreement to be observed in its full capacity, not only its military aspect, but also its political, economic and humanitarian aspects. He also denounced Kiev’s ongoing economic blockade of the Donbass Region, where the central authorities refuse to pay pensions and provide social benefits, as “wrong” and “harmful” to the Minsk accords.

"We paid special attention, and it probably took more time than anything else, to take further practical steps to implement the agreements that the contact group, which includes Kiev, Lugansk, Donetsk, Russia and the OSCE, should form working subgroups on specific areas of settlement, including the military and security issues, issues of economic recovery of Donbass, humanitarian issues and political reforms, including, of course, constitutional reform. We call on the sides to immediately create working sub-groups as part of the Contact Group and agreed that there will be groups on political process, humanitarian issues, economic issues and an amnesty," Lavrov said.