Macron calls on all parties to move towards implementation of Minsk agreements

Macron said this at a joint briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Tuesday, February 8, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"On January 26, at a meeting of political advisers, Ukraine confirmed that it is ready to move forward through these agreements, and we have outlined further steps. I discussed these issues with President Putin yesterday, and he reaffirmed his intention to continue implementing the Minsk agreements. And I heard from you today that you are also ready to fulfill these agreements. It seems to me that this is the only way that helps move towards lasting peace today," Macron said.

He said the signing of the Minsk agreements in 2015 stopped the bloodshed, and in this sense, they can be considered an effective tool.

"Therefore, we must continue to move forward to fully implement them. It's necessary that all parties to the agreements comply with their commitments, and France and Germany are ready to support these efforts," Macron said.

He confirmed that a meeting of political advisers to the leaders of the Normandy format countries would be held in Berlin on February 10 and expressed hope that the process would move forward.

"We must work now to bring our positions closer. Of course, this will take some time. […] We need to discuss certain positions and make some clarifications, firstly, to reduce the level of escalation, and secondly -- and I've made it very clear to both President Putin and President Zelensky – to make sure that purely on the basis of the Minsk agreements and in compliance with all procedures […] after discussing these issues at the Trilateral Contact Group, we could help ensure the implementation of the documents that were signed in 2015," Macron said.

In this context, he noted the importance of eliminating differences in the coming weeks, restoring mutual trust and reducing the escalation around Ukraine's borders.

Macron is on a working visit to Ukraine on February 8.

On February 7, he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

op