Eastern Ukraine

The peace is still far away

In the East of Ukraine will continue fighting, the Minsk agreement has not been implemented yet. During a visit in the Chancellor’s office made the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Russia is responsible for this.

Even the weapons are silent in the East of Ukraine is not. A sustainable cease-fire was but the prerequisite for all further points the a year ago concluded Minsk agreements could be implemented, it was German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to agree. His political fate also depends on it, whether in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk again, peace returns.

Shelling with heavy weapons

Since mid-November would be fighting again on the increase, reported Poroshenko to journalists in the Chancellery. He accused Russian soldiers and prorussischen separatists before the cease-fire repeatedly to break down. Alone in January were Ukrainian troops and civilians-1200 Once fired upon – even with heavy weapons, according to the agreements of the Minsk agreement are no longer in the Region are likely to be, so the Ukrainian President. The Russian side, in turn, accuses the Ukraine, the ceasefire is not observed.

A Pro-Russian Separatist in Donetsk

“The cease-fire can be no partial,” said Poroshenko. A permanent ceasefire is achieved, elections in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk held, and the two regions with a constitutional amendment, more autonomy will be granted. The granting of a special status is inner-Ukrainian, however, highly controversial.

OSCE observers in the work prevented

Moreover, the OSCE observers, the withdrawal of heavy weapons verification should, in the Donbass not move freely anywhere, complained to the Ukrainian President during his visit in Berlin. You would get no access to the suspected positions of heavy weapons and to be a part of the Ukrainian-Russian border. This is not a Surprise, said Poroshenko, “because Russia still fighters, weapons and ammunition across the border in the Donbass and for this illegal activity and no eyewitnesses would like to.”

Further sanctions against Russia

Merkel demanded “that the OSCE observers access to the entire territory of Eastern Ukraine, even to the area near the border is”. Only if the Minsk agreements are fully implemented, the Embassy of Merkel’s the government in Moscow could just repeatedly extended sanctions against Russia be lifted, “but so far, we are unfortunately not yet”. In the conversation in the Chancellor’s office also took the foreign policy Advisor to the French President Hollande part. Germany and France want to continue to work together for a full implementation of the Minsk agreement.