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Merkel urges full implementation of Minsk agreement between Ukraine, Russia

Xinhua, January 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday reiterated the importance of a full implementation of the Minsk peace agreement for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

Speaking at a news conference with visiting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk, Merkel said they both agreed that the Minsk deal, reached in September between the Ukrainian government and pro-independent insurgents, was the key to resolving core issues related to the Ukraine crisis, including the stabilization of the situation in Ukraine's eastern regions.

Merkel stressed that "all points of the Minsk agreement must be implemented," which she said was also an important prerequisite for lifting part of the sanctions against Russia.

The chancellor left it open as to whether a four-way summit on the Ukraine conflict would take place in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on Jan. 15, saying foreign ministers of Ukraine, Germany, Russia and France were still in the preparatory phases for a possible meeting.

Speaking on the Minsk agreement, the prime minister said Ukraine had kept its end of the bargain and called on Russia to fulfill its obligations in order to reach a full implementation of the deal. Endit