France expects Ukraine, Russia to observe Minsk Agreements - French ambassador in Kyiv
KYIV. July 27 (Interfax) - France expects Ukraine and Russia to implement the Minsk Agreements on settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine, French Ambassador to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont said.
"We expect both the Ukrainian and the Russian side to observe the commitments they undertook within the framework of the agreements they signed, which envisioned, in particular, the declaration of a ceasefire, the establishment of a demilitarized zone on both sides of the line of contact, and the establishment of clear legal status for Donbas within the Ukrainian state," Dumont said in an interview with Interfax.
The observance of the provisions of these agreements is a key precondition for overcoming the crisis, Dumont said. "However, ceasefire violations have been committed on a daily basis, and the situation has worsened again in the past several days, which is evident from the steadily growing number of those killed and injured," she said.
"At the same time, we understand Russia's role in this conflict, particularly the influence it has on the separatists. Proceeding from this, we expect it to provide preconditions allowing for the implementation of the agreements provisions concerning security and to put the necessary pressure for returning, among other things, Ukrainian enterprises confiscated in March this year," Dumont said.
Russia is also expected to "do everything necessary to releasing captives," she said.
Such a complex conflict cannot be settled in a brief time, Dumont said. "Therefore, the very objective of the Minsk Agreements and the negotiations in the Minsk format is to help move ahead step by step, based on a detailed road map adopted by the heads of state and government," she said.
Discussions on overcoming the crisis in eastern Ukraine in the Normandy format (France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine) should produce tangible results, she said.
"France will continue to participate in the Normandy format, but for us to talk about a dynamic or intensified dialogue, these discussions on overcoming the crisis should above all produce tangible results," she said.
"I believe that, in receiving President [Petro] Poroshenko in Paris less than two months after taking office, the President of the Republic [French President Emmanuel Macron] demonstrated that he is not going to turn his back to the Ukraine issue. He also reiterated his commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty," Dumont said.
