Nuland: Peace in Donbas needed for progress in political part of Minsk agreements

08.06.2016 11:17

Ukrinform

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland has noted that a certain progress was reached in implementation of the Minsk agreements in some directions except for the political part, the decentralization in Donbas, which requires the cessation of hostilities and OSCE’s access to all the occupied territories.

She said this before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"As for Ukraine, you know that the Minsk agreements exist, calling primarily for ceasefire, access of OSCE monitors to the entire territory of eastern Ukraine, political decentralization package for Donbas areas and removal of weapons," Nuland reminded.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs noted that a certain progress had been already reached [in implementation of the Minsk agreements]. “However, there is no progress in the political package for Donbas as, first, we have to see security and peace there, and we will do more in order to make Russia and separatists stop the violence and ensure full OSCE access," Nuland said.