Russia-NATO Council Agrees on Need to Urgently Implement Minsk Deal

The NATO-Russia Council members underscored the need of the rapid implementation of the Minks agreements.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — All members of the NATO-Russia Council agreed during their meeting Wednesday on the need to hastily implement the Minsk peace agreements for Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

"All 29 members of the NATO-Russia Council agreed today on the need for a full and rapid implementation of the Minsk agreements. The signatories to the agreements must comply with their commitments, and Russia has a significant responsibility in this regard," Stoltenberg told reporters.

Kiev has been conducting a military operation against Donbass independence supporters since spring 2014, when they refused to recognize the new coup-imposed Ukrainian government and declared sovereignty.

The Minsk deal on Ukraine's reconciliation was struck in February 2015 by Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France and later signed by Kiev and the Donbass self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. Both warring parties have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce despite agreeing to the ceasefire deal.