“There is a ceasefire that is supposed to start in a couple of days. Anytime you can get warring sides to stop shooting and killing each other, it is a good thing,'' Beyrle said. “But it is going to take a lot of commitment from all sides and from the international community to make all if these promises work and to make them stick.''
Beyrle joined Russia’s Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak in American University’s Initiative for Russian Culture screening of ‘They Fought for Their Country’ at the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC. Beyrle participated in a question and answer session after the film together with Executive Director of Initiative for Russian Culture Anton Fedyashin.
When asked how likely is that sanctions will be rolled back if Russia commits to the Minsk agreement, the former ambassador noted that it was too early to make such a forecast.
The Minsk talks concluded on Thursday with a thirteen point agreement signed by the government in Kiev and leaders of the self-proclaimed eastern Ukrainian people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the other Contact Group participants. The agreement calls for a ceasefire, drawback of heavy weaponry on both sides of the conflict, and constitutional reforms in Ukraine.
The United States and its allies have imposed multiple sanctions against Russia’s banking, energy and military sectors, as well as on several high-profile individuals over Moscow’s alleged involvement in Ukraine’s internal affairs. However, Russia has repeatedly denied these accusations and has argued that the warring sides should establish direct dialogue.
