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'Sinking' Minsk Agreements May Ruin France’s Reputation

© REUTERS / Alkis KonstantinidisFrench President Francois Hollande looks on during a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (not pictured) in Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, October 23, 2015.
French President Francois Hollande looks on during a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (not pictured) in Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, October 23, 2015. - Sputnik International
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Since the coup in Ukraine in 2014, the new government has repeatedly demonstrated its contempt for France. Kiev has refused to fulfill its obligations under the Minsk agreements. It is time for President Francois Hollande to call on Kiev to observe its obligations.

A soldier mans a heavy machine-gun position at a Ukrainian army checkpoint near Kurakhove, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 on a road leading to Russia-backed separatist held territory - Sputnik International
Kiev May Resort to Military Provocations to Evade Minsk Deal
In his recent documentary about the coup in Ukraine "Ukraine. Masks of the Revolution," French director Paul Moreira challenged the official version of the Odessa atrocities.

Particularly, the film sheds light on the involvement of Ukrainian nationalist groups in the tragedy in Odessa in May 2014.

In response to this fact, Le Monde published a critical article, accusing Moreira of distorting facts.

In addition, Le Monde criticized the documentary for depicting Ukrainian lawmaker Oleg Tyagnibok as a "neo-Nazi." It seems that to the French newspaper, Tyagnibok is just a "mentor of young savages who need to let off their inner distress," an article in Boulevard Voltaire read.

A soldier mans a heavy machine-gun position at a Ukrainian army checkpoint near Kurakhove, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 3, 2015. - Sputnik International
Hollande Calls for 'Putting Life' Into Minsk Agreements
Meanwhile, Kiev representatives recently said they will consider only those articles of the Minsk agreements which correspond with the Ukrainian constitution and laws. The document was signed by Germany, Ukraine, Russia and France, under the so-called Normandy Four format. This means Kiev’s act of defiance should a concern for Paris.

According to the Minsk agreements, Donbass should have received greater autonomy while Kiev should have revised the constitution and passed a decentralization law. However, finally Kiev simply "sent the other three leaders packing."

"Monsieur Hollande, due to US interference, your Normandy format is now sinking like the Normandie liner sank once upon a time. You signed the agreements on behalf of France, and this signature should be respected," the author wrote.

During the bloody events on Kiev’s Independence Square in February 2014, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius signed an agreement between then-president Viktor Yanukovych and his opponents. Shortly after, Yanukovych was toppled, but Paris did not say a word in response, the article note. Since then, Kiev has showed its contempt for Paris. And now Hollande is to blame, who is serving the interests of other nations.

Undoubtedly, amid rising tensions between Moscow and Kiev, the idea to start talks between Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin was Hollande’s success. The Minsk talks have contributed to dialogue and launched the process of reconciliation. This is why France should not let the peace process be undermined. It is time for Francois Hollande to call on Kiev to observe its obligations, and it is time to "think about France rather than its partners," the article concluded.

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