Ukraine Still Unwilling to Carry Out Minsk Deal - Russian Envoy to OSCE

Russian envoy to the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) Alexander Lukashevich said that it should be reminded that the Minsk package of measures requires Kiev to conduct direct dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk on all aspects of the settlement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Ukrainian government continues to display unwillingness to fully implement a set of measures aimed at resolving the conflict in the country’s southeast, Russian envoy to the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) Alexander Lukashevich said Friday.

"The problem is still in Kiev’s unwillingness to carry out in full the Minsk agreements and follow its action plan. It should be reminded that the Minsk package of measures requires Kiev to conduct direct dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk on all aspects of the settlement. Such a willingness is still not seen from Ukraine," Lukashevich said at the OSCE Permanent Council session.

He voiced particular concern with the increasing number of "hotspots" and the surge in violence that led to civilian casualties this month in southeastern Ukraine.

Ukraine launched a military operation in the country's southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new government in Kiev that they viewed as illegitimate.

In February 2015, a peace agreement was signed between the conflicting sides in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. The deal stipulates a full ceasefire, weapons withdrawal from the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, as well as constitutional reforms which would give a special status to the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics.