United States calls on Russia to adhere to Minsk agreements, withdraw troops from Ukraine’s border

“The United States welcomes yesterday’s OSCE announcement regarding the ‘strong determination’ of Ukrainian government forces and Russia-led forces in eastern Ukraine to fully adhere to the Measures to Strengthen the Ceasefire agreement of July 22, 2020,” reads the statement by the U.S. Department of State released on Thursday.

The U.S. Department of State expressed hope that the resultant peace will create the diplomatic space necessary to de-escalate regional tensions and provide a positive atmosphere for further discussion. 

The United States also applauds the efforts of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and the Trilateral Contact Group.

“As the United States has made clear, the conflict in eastern Ukraine can be resolved only in an environment of de-escalation, such as yesterday’s announced ceasefire.  We stand ready to help facilitate the implementation of the Minsk agreements, in support of the OSCE and the Normandy process,” the U.S. Department of State underscores.

In addition, the United States calls on the Russian government to fulfill its Minsk agreement commitments to pull back forces and weapons from the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, as well as to pull back the forces it has amassed along Ukraine’s borders and end its aggressive and threatening rhetoric.

According to the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG, at the regular TCG meeting on December 22, the parties reached a common understanding on the need to restore the ceasefire. According to the delegation, this result is especially important in view of the upcoming winter holidays. The Ukrainian side also continues to work in all available formats to release detainees, open entry-exit checkpoints, ensure the implementation of other agreements in the interests of all Ukrainians on both sides of the contact line.

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