UK to Ensure EU Unity on Russian Sanctions if Minsk Agreements Fail

Ukrainian President's press-service announced that UK Prime Minister David Cameron assured Petro Poroshenko in a phone talk that the United Kingdom is ready to ensure the unity of European Union concerning Anti-Russia sanctions in case of noncompliance with Minsk Agreements.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — UK Prime Minister David Cameron assured Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in a phone talk that the United Kingdom is ready to ensure the unity of European Union concerning Anti-Russia sanctions in case of noncompliance with Minsk Agreements, Poroshenko's press-service said in a statement.

"Cameron also noted that Ukraine can count on UK support in UN Security Council, where it [UK] is a permanent member," the statement published Sunday said.

Poroshenko stressed during the phone talk that overall ceasefire on the whole line of contact in Donbas is necessary for the further heavy weaponry withdrawal.

At midnight local time on February 15 (February 14, 22:00 GMT), the ceasefire between Kiev forces and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine came into force.

The truce was signed during the last reconciliation talks on Ukraine in the Belarus capital of Minsk on February 12. Apart from the ceasefire, the warring sides must exchange all prisoners and establish a buffer zone in the conflict area.

A similar agreement was signed last September. However, the clashes in eastern Ukraine continued and even intensified in the first weeks of 2015.