Fragile peace roadmap on Ukraine must be implemented as agreed - Main contents
Following the peace talks on Ukraine held earlier in Minsk, ALDE Group leader, Guy Verhofstadt, said:
"The news from Minsk are a sign of fragile hope - which must not be destroyed in the next three days until the ceasefire enters into force."
"The EU needs to stay focused on the implementation of the plan, in particular on the enforcement of a swift withdrawal of heavy weapons and a monitoring of the Russian-Ukrainian border.
We need to stay committed to ensure that the road from Minsk does not become a frozen conflict in Ukraine."
MEP Hans van Baalen (VVD, The Netherlands), ALDE Group’s spokesman on Russia and Ukraine commented on the outcome of the peace negotiations:
"For the second time in four months, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in Minsk on a ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine. Now the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Putin has to implement the conditions of the Minsk agreement and must return to legality. If the Minsk II agreement has the same future as the previous Minsk agreement, all options for a joint EU-US response are open".
ALDE Group Vice-President, Marielle de Sarnez (Modem, France) welcomed the spirit of responsibility which prevailed in Minsk and the role played by France and Germany, on behalf of the EU, in reaching this global political agreement.
"This agreement is quite fragile and demands real concessions on both sides. Moscow must show its willingness to withdraw support for separatists’ army. Kiev must be ready to offer autonomy to the Russian speaking population, within the Ukrainian institutional framework."