German FM Says Progress Made in 'Normandy Format' Talks Over Ukraine

Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier commented on the recent talks on Ukrainian crisis, saying that tangible progress was achieved during the meeting.

MOSCOW, January 22 (Sputnik) — Progress was made during the "Normandy Format" ministerial meeting over the conflict in Ukraine, the sides managed to agree on a demarcation line, Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier said as quoted by Reuters.

According to Bloomberg, the German minister spoke of "tangible progress."

Agreement Finally Reached on Demarcation Line in Eastern Ukraine

The foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany achieved progress, agreeing on a demarcation line during the "Normandy Format" meeting over Ukrainian crisis, Steinmeier told journalists.

"Finally there was an agreement reached today that the demarcation line, mentioned in the Minsk protocol, will be the line from which the withdrawal of heavy weaponry should start now," Steienmeier told journalists after the meeting.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the most important decision made in the meeting was withdrawal of heavy artillery from the line of contact fixed in Minsk agreements in September.

The withdrawal of heavy artillery from the line of contact between the Ukrainian independence supporters and Kiev-led forces is stipulated by a memorandum signed in Minsk last September. The meeting was mediated by Russian and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) representatives.

Despite the ceasefire agreements made in Minsk, clashes have continued in Eastern Ukraine, with the conflicting sides accusing each other of breaking the truce.