Volker explains importance of Minsk agreements

U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker said this at the hearing entitled “Five Years After the Revolution of Dignity: Ukraine's Progress/Russia's Malign Activities” held at the U.S. Senate on June 18, 2019.

"In short, Russia has created one of the worst humanitarian crises in Europe since the wars in the Balkans in the 1990s. This suffering is a direct result of Russia’s aggression and will end only when Russia withdraws its military and security forces from Ukraine, and implements the Minsk agreements – which remain the best vehicle for achieving peace through the reintegration of the currently Russia-controlled areas in the east," Volker emphasized.

He also noted that the U.S. was also focused on the central elements of Minsk implementation, starting with the ceasefire, withdrawal of foreign forces, the disarming of the illegal armed groups, and creating a situation of security in Donbas so that "additional political steps that are also part of Minsk can be taken."

According to the diplomat, the Minsk process lacks only one thing – the political will of Moscow, which denies its responsibility in this process.

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