‘Normandy Format’ FMs Call for Immediate Halt to Fighting in Ukraine

The foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany called on all actors of the fighting in the Donbas to implement the ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons in accordance with the line of contact as agreed in Minsk on September 19.

MOSCOW, January 22 (Sputnik) — The foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany called for an immediate stop to fighting in Donbas, following the "Normandy Format" talks in Berlin, Thursday's press release by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

"They [foreign ministers] note with serious concern that their call for full respect of the regime and quiet has not been followed, and that, to the contrary, the fighting in the Donbas area has severely escalated causing the loss of many human lives including civilians. This must stop immediately and the regime of quiet must be restored," the press release said. The four ministers called on all actors on the ground to fully respect it, according to the press release.

The ministers restated their support for the Contact Group, calling on all "signatories of the Minsk agreements to meet in the coming days to implement the ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons in accordance with the line of contact as agreed in Minsk on September 19."

According to the press release, the ministers reiterate that "tangible progress" on the full implementation of the Minsk agreements must be accomplished prior to the planned Astana meeting.

Russia has been attempting to address the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine in the so-called Normandy format, including representatives of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany. The first such talks were held in June 2014 alongside D-Day commemorations in Normandy, France. The heads of the Normandy quartet countries are expected to meet again by the end of January in Astana.