German representative to NATO: Peacekeepers in Donbas cannot replace Minsk agreements

UN peacekeeping mission should be deployed in eastern Ukraine, but it cannot be an alternative to the implementation of the Minsk accords.

Permanent Representative of Germany to NATO Hans-Dieter Lucas said this at the hearings "Making Peace in Donbas: The Role of a Peacekeeping Mission" at the European Parliament on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports from Brussels.

"We have clearly stated that, in our opinion, the mandate of the peacekeeping mission should focus on the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which is to become the basis for the deployment of a possible UN mission. This mission should act in support of the Minsk agreements. We do not share the view that the mission can replace the Minsk agreements," the German representative to NATO said.

He stressed that the mission should be deployed throughout the conflict zone in Donbas, not only to protect the OSCE monitors as offered by Russia.

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