NATO chief considers Minsk accord only way out of Ukraine crisis

There is no alternative to the Minsk deal on the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said here Tuesday.

"We support the full implementation of the Minsk agreements because it is the only way out of the current crisis," Stoltenberg said at an enlarged meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

The comprehensive implementation of the cease-fire deal by all parties is a prerequisite for peace in eastern Ukraine, Stoltenberg stressed, urging the conflicting sides to intensify their efforts to further the peacemaking process in the region.

Among other things, he said that Kiev should make "some difficult political decisions, particularly on the status of certain parts of eastern Ukraine" to bring calm to the restive areas.

For their part, independence-seeking insurgents should fully respect the cease-fire, withdraw their heavy weapons and grant the monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe full access to the conflict area, Stoltenberg added.

The Minsk deal, which provides for comprehensive truce, full pullout of heavy weapons from the front line and exchange of all prisoners, was reached in February in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, involving leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.

The deal also stipulates granting a special status to the rebel-controlled areas in Donetsk and Lugansk regions, transferring more economic, financial and administrative powers to local authorities.

Stoltenberg arrived in Kiev on Monday for a two-day visit, which is his first official visit to Ukraine as NATO chief. Endi