German Ambassador to Ukraine: All parties must be active in implementing Minsk agreements
German Ambassador to Ukraine Ernst Reichel believes that Ukraine cannot fully assert its position on the Minsk Agreements and will have to make certain concessions. However, the existence of agreements with the Russian Federation would be more profitable for Ukraine than having none at all.
"In this conflict which is regulated by the Minsk Agreements, Ukraine cannot 100% defend its interests and have to make certain concessions,” Reichel said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. He also stressed that Germany expects constructive and intensive work on implementing the Agreements from all parties, including Ukraine. This means full ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and implementation of the political settlement that was reached in Minsk.
"We are strongly convinced that it would be profitable for Ukraine to have the Minsk Agreements and implement them rather to be in a situation when there are no agreements with Russia at all. And I was glad when Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko confirmed it during his speech in the Verkhovna Rada,” Reichel noted.
The ambassador also expressed his support of Poroshenko’s position on full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.