Ambassadors who visited Donbas with Zelensky share impressions on social media
The diplomats shared their impressions of the trip on Twitter, according to Ukrinform.
"CDA [Kristina] Kvien joined President Zelensky & ambassadors from Germany, France, Britain, Canada and Sweden near the line of contact to hear how Russia's snipers and Russia-led forces attempt to provoke Ukrainian defenders. The U.S. stands with Ukraine," the U.S. Embassy said.
CDA Kvien joined President @ZelenskyyUa & ambassadors from 🇩🇪, 🇫🇷, 🇬🇧, 🇨🇦 and 🇸🇪 near the line of contact to hear how Russia’s snipers and Russia-led forces attempt to provoke Ukrainian defenders. The U.S. stands with Ukraine. #PartnerStrong pic.twitter.com/gj9UrAgvXE
— U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) February 11, 2021
French Ambassador to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins, in turn, said the diplomats and the Ukrainian president had spent the whole day near the line of contact.
"Full mobilization of France to unblock the Donbas negotiations within the framework of the Normandy format and the Minsk process. Peace must return in Ukraine," he wrote on Twitter.
With President Zelensky we spent the whole day to the Line of contact. Full mobilization of 🇫🇷 to unblock the #Donbas negotiations within the framework of the Normandy format and the Minsk process. #Peace must return in 🇺🇦 https://t.co/y1RWzXbAMs
— Etienne de Poncins (@EdePoncins) February 11, 2021
"It was a privilege to visit the East today with colleague Ambassadors of Sweden, France, Germany and the United States to hear Ukrainian military discuss their daily experience of the ceasefire, and violations," British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simons tweeted.
It was a privilege to visit to the East today with colleague Ambassadors of 🇸🇪 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇺🇸 to hear 🇺🇦 military discuss their daily experience of the ceasefire, and violations. pic.twitter.com/OMl4wiIav3
— Melinda Simmons (@MelSimmonsFCDO) February 11, 2021
Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Larisa Galadza noted that the diplomats' encounters with soldiers in Avdiivka and elsewhere had given them a close-up look at the dynamics of the ceasefire.
"Canada supports its [ceasefire] continuation and supports the soldiers who uphold it. They and we know it's the only way to move towards peace," Galadza wrote.
These encounters with soldiers in Avdiivka & elsewhere gave us a close up look at dynamics of the ceasefire. 🇨🇦 supports its continuation, and supports the soldiers who uphold it. They and we know it’s the only way to move towards peace. 🙏 for the invitation, @ZelenskyyUa pic.twitter.com/rAtv8Xr4tk
— Larisa Galadza - Лариса Ґаладза (@LGaladza) February 12, 2021
Swedish Ambassador to Ukraine Tobias Thyberg, in turn, called "very valuable" a briefing by the Ukrainian authorities on the challenges currently facing the ceasefire in Donbas.
Very valuable briefing today by Ukrainian authorities on the challenges currently facing the ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/urm66uFr7g
— Tobias Thyberg (@TobiasThyberg) February 11, 2021
German Ambassador to Ukraine Anka Feldhusen recalled that the day of the president's and diplomats' visit to Donbas marked the sixth anniversary of the start of talks in Minsk (the so-called Minsk-2 agreements). She also extended her condolences to the relatives of a Ukrainian soldier killed by an enemy sniper on February 11.
"The Minsk agreements, as Volodymyr Zelensky said, are the only way to a peaceful settlement of this war. Can it happen soon? We don't know. But we are working very actively on this in both Berlin and Paris. I hope we will see the end of this war," the Ukrainian President's Office quoted Feldhusen as saying.
Zelensky and ambassadors from leading countries paid a working visit to Donetsk region on Thursday, February 11.
Five ceasefire violations were recorded in the area of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas on February 11, and two Ukrainian servicemen were killed.
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