However, this positive and very much needed step cannot overshadow the bigger picture of the extremely difficult situation in eastern Ukraine, destabilised in the aftermath of the Russian aggression.

Poland supports mediation efforts of Germany and France  within the Normandy Format and of the OSCE within the Trilateral Contact Group. Poland expects that today’s event will mark the beginning of the full implementation of  the December 2019 Normandy Format summit conclusions  and of the commitments under the Minsk Agreements.

Russia,  being the side of the conflict, must immediately cease its aggressive military operations in Donbas, withdraw its mercenaries and weapons from Ukraine, and lift any movement restrictions  faced by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission staff when they perform their mandated tasks on the territories not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.

 

MFA Press Office