Russia must fulfill Minsk agreements, stop fueling conflict in Donbas - EU

The EU said this in a statement on Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and the illegal occupation of Crimea, which was read out during an online meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, May 21, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

The European Union called on the parties to take the necessary steps to implement the agreed conclusions of the Normandy Four summit in Paris in December 2019. In this context, the EU welcomed Ukraine's constructive approach and called on Russia to do the same, including within the Trilateral Contact Group, the statement said.

It was also emphasized that the EU remains steadfast in its call on all parties to implement the Minsk agreements swiftly and fully in order to achieve a lasting political settlement of the conflict in accordance with OSCE principles and commitments.

The EU called on Russia to take full responsibility in this regard, as well as to use its significant influence on the armed formations it supports to fully implement the Minsk commitments. According to the statement, respect for these principles and commitments must be restored.

The EU also called on Russia to immediately stop fueling the conflict by providing financial and military support to armed formations. The EU also remains deeply concerned about the presence of Russian military hardware and troops in areas controlled by Russian-backed forces, the statement said.

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