Ukraine's Opposition Bloc urges unilateral implementation of Minsk accord

Ukraine's Opposition Bloc on Wednesday called on the government to unilaterally fulfill the Minsk peace agreement in an attempt to put an end to the conflict in eastern regions.

"The Opposition Bloc requires the Ukrainian authorities to start implementing those points of the Minsk agreement that Ukraine can do unilaterally, regardless of the accomplishment of the preconditions on the cease-fire and the withdrawal of weapons," the Opposition Bloc said in a statement.

It asked to grant special status to the areas controlled by pro-independence rebels and give amnesty to detained insurgents as soon as possible to ease the violence in Lugansk and Donetsk regions.

Besides, the Opposition Bloc stressed the need to ensure access of humanitarian aid to the rebel-held areas and resume social welfare payments to people who live in the restive territories so as to improve the humanitarian situation there.

The 13-point Minsk agreement, outlining the steps needed to end the conflict in Ukraine's eastern regions, was reached on Feb. 12 in talks involving leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.

As clashes between government troops and rebels continue, the warring sides have been accusing each other of violating the truce and undermining the peaceful process designed to end the conflict, which started in April 2014 and has killed over 6,400 people. Endi