“Thanks to the Minsk agreements, it has been possible to contain the conflict in eastern Ukraine and prevent a conflagration in the region. Progress can still be made today where the political will exists – as the successful exchange of hundreds of prisoners in late December demonstrated. Nonetheless, the status of implementation three years on is far from satisfactory.
Far too little has been achieved with regard to resolving the conflict, which has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people to date. Time and again, the ceasefire is being violated; and the fighting has devastating consequences particularly during the winter months. People lack coal for heating, water and food.

We appeal to all parties to finally show the political will to implement the Minsk agreements. A first important step is to stabilise the security situation and to withdraw heavy weapons from the region. A potential United Nations peace mission could provide opportunities to achieve this if it served to drive forward the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

Germany will continue to work intensively with France in the Normandy format to bring about a solution that will finally lead to peace.”