Ukraine at OSCE: Progress in Minsk process impossible without ceasefire

Ihor Prokopchuk, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, made a corresponding statement at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting on Thursday, June 20, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We share the acknowledgement of the fact that any changes for the better will become possible only after reaching a guaranteed and lasting truce as was underscored by [OSCE Chairperson-in-Office] Miroslav Lajčák. Further progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements is impossible without fulfilment of their first security provision on the ceasefire," Prokopchuk said.

He emphasized that Ukraine strives to give a new breath to the Normandy format. The diplomat also called on Russia "to resume its participation in the Normandy format and eventually fulfil its commitments as a party to the conflict and as a party to the Minsk peace accords.

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