Too Early to Speak About Minsk Accord Prospects - Russian Deputy FM

Russia's deputy foreign minister said it was too early to speak about the future of the Minsk accord on Donbass.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — It is too early to predict the success or failure of a set of agreements to settle the conflict in Donbass, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said Tuesday, clarifying that the Minsk accords are still alive following the latest troop pullout agreement.

"It all depends on the meetings taking place these days at various formats. This is the Contact Group, where an important decision to withdraw the sides in three locations was taken. It all depends on how we actually move forward. I know that presidential aides maintain contacts as part of the Normandy format," Karasin told RIA Novosti. "We work on a daily basis."

The sides to the conflict in eastern Ukraine signed a framework agreement on the withdrawal of forces at three locations along the line of contact last Wednesday, September 21. The following day, it was said that troop withdrawal would begin at four additional locations starting October 5.

Pointing out that the Minsk ceasefire agreements are "still alive," Karasin noted Moscow's efforts at their implementation and voiced hope in Kiev's understanding of its role in the accords' success.

"The withdrawal of the sides is a very important agreement. But it needs to be implemented. That is what specific efforts are focused on," the deputy foreign minister said.