Minsk II timeline runs until end of year - EU reminds

Spokesperson for the European External Action Service, Maja Kocijancic, said this in exclusive commentary to an Ukrinform correspondent in Brussels.

"The European Council decided in March to link the duration of the restrictive measures regarding the Russian Federation to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Minsk timeline runs until end of the year, and the economic measures have been prolonged until end of January already," the representative of the European External Action Service said.

Speaking about the progress and prospects for implementation of the Minsk Agreements, Maja Kocijancic noted that the ceasefire had started to be largely respected a week ago.

"Further progress on the ground is now urgent, notably withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line and full access for OSCE monitors to monitor this," she said.

The representative of the European External Action Service praised the changes to the Constitution, passed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on August 31, saying they are "an important step forward in the implementation of the Minsk agreements."

"For the implementation of the Minsk Agreements it is also fundamental that local elections in the separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine take place in accordance with Ukrainian law and OSCE electoral standards," Maja Kocijancic stressed.

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