US Calls on All Parties to Implement Minsk Agreement Fully - White House

White House said the Minsk agreement was an important step toward reconciliation in Ukraine and asked all parties involved to carry out their commitments under the agreement.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States called the Minsk agreement an important move toward peace in Ukraine and urged all parties to carry out their commitments under the new agreement, White House said in a statement issued on Thursday.

“The agreement represents a potentially significant step toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty consistent with the Minsk agreements from last September," the statement read. “We call on all parties to carry out the commitments undertaken in today’s accord and the September agreements fully and without delay."

Now the agreement must be followed by “immediate, concrete steps” such as cease-fire implementation and heavy weapons withdrawal from the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, the statement said.

“The true test of today’s accord will be in its full and unambiguous implementation, including the durable end of hostilities and the restoration of Ukrainian control over its border with Russia,” according to the White House.

On Thursday, the leaders of Ukraine, Germany, Russia, and France worked out a reconciliation deal including 13 points aimed at ending the military confrontation between Kiev forces and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine. The deal includes an unconditional ceasefire coming into force at midnight on February 15, urges Kiev to undertake constitutional reform with a focus on Ukraine’s decentralization, as well as stipulates the withdrawal of all foreign armed groups, equipment and mercenaries from eastern Ukraine under the observation of the OSCE.