PARIS (Sputnik) — The conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed more than 6,500 people since it started in April 2014, the United Nations estimates. Both militias and government troops have traded blame for the escalation in the past weeks.
"We call on the sides to agree by June 26 to pull out tanks and heavy weaponry of 100mm caliber. The military hardware should be withdrawn in coming weeks."
He urged Ukraine’s military command and militias in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk to always grant international observers safe access to conflict zones since any impediments prevented them from monitoring the pullout, as stipulated by the February 12 ceasefire deal.
The OSCE’s special monitoring mission in eastern Ukraine earlier reported a hike in artillery fire exchanges between Ukrainian government troops and militias in the breakaway Donetsk region.
Fabius said the four ministers were concerned about the escalation.
"We expressed our deep concern about the deteriorating security situation in Donbass. We urged for immediate deescalation and ceasefire that allow for political, humanitarian, and socio-economic progress."
Over the weekend, monitors observed over 500 explosions in and around the east Ukrainian city of Donetsk. They said heavy weapons had been spotted at positions belonging to both Ukrainian troops and militias, in what the SMM said was a violation of Minsk withdrawal lines.
