Brussels, 22/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 22 September, the European Union welcomed the agreement concluded in Minsk on the modalities for implementing the ceasefire in Ukraine. The spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, stated that “all elements of the Minsk Protocol (5 September) and of this agreement must now be fully implemented by all sides”. He added that “a lasting ceasefire remains key to the success of the current efforts to reach a sustainable political solution, based on respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity”. He emphasised that the EU stands ready to support any efforts related to the implementation of these agreements, “including in particular through the OSCE”.
The spokesman explained that the EU had taken good note of the fact that the ceasefire has so far resulted in a significant decrease in the level of violence, the ongoing release of hostages, and the adoption by the Ukrainian Parliament on Tuesday of laws on amnesty and interim self-governance status for certain districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk, “in view of the implementation of key points of the Minsk Protocol of 5 September”.
Representatives from the government and the separatists reached an agreement on 20 September on a ceasefire and the creation of a 30 km demilitarised zone in eastern Ukraine. On Monday, the truce appeared to be holding overall, although an exchange of fire took place in the morning in Donetsk. The Ukrainian army has warned that it will not apply all the provisions in the Minsk agreement, particularly those relating to a demilitarised zone and the withdrawing of its artillery, unless the ceasefire is respected in full. (CG)