UN Chief Stresses Need to Implement Minsk Deals on Ukraine

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the necessity of full implementation of Minsk agreements on Ukrainian reconciliation in a meeting with President of the European Council Donald Tusk and European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – Ban met with Tusk and Timmermans on Sunday in New York.

"The Secretary-General stressed the need to fully implement the Minsk agreements to ensure a peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine," the United Nations said in a statement.

According to the United Nations, Ban, Tusk and Timmermans also exchanged views on Syria, climate change, the refugee crisis and the Middle East Peace Process.

Kiev launched a special military operation in Ukraine’s southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities, which came to power as a result of a coup.

In February 2015, a peace agreement was signed between Ukraine’s conflicting sides in Minsk. Despite the fact that the deal stipulated a full ceasefire in Donbas, violations both on the part of Kiev forces and local militia have been reported.