Ukraine and the European Union called on Russia to acknowledge responsibility for the conflict in Donbas, to promote a ceasefire and the implementation of the Minsk agreements, according to the text of the joint statement following the 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit.
“We condemn the violation of the ceasefire by Russia-backed armed formations and call on Russia to fully assume its responsibility in this regard and to use its considerable influence over the armed formations it backs, to re-establish a comprehensive ceasefire, to meet the Minsk commitments in full, and to ensure free and unhindered access of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to the non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine, including the areas along the Ukrainian-Russian State border, in accordance with its mandate,” according to the document approved by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
In the statement they also deplore the decision not to agree to the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Border Observation Mission at two checkpoints of the Russian-Ukrainian border (Gukovo and Donetsk), “which contradicts the spirit of the Minsk agreements and does not contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.”
In addition, Russia was called upon to withdraw its troops and equipment from the eastern border of Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula.
“We strongly urge Russia to meet its commitments under the Vienna Document, and to provide more transparency and to credibly explain the deployment of military forces and equipment in these area,” the statement reads.
It is also reported that the EU has again continued economic sanctions against Russia, and their duration remains clearly determined by the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.
The documents condemn Russia’s steps to coerce Ukrainian citizens in territories that are temporarily not controlled by the Ukrainian government to apply for Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure, as well as the issuance of Russian passports to Ukrainian citizens, which is contrary to the Minsk agreements.
Ukraine also welcomed the European Council Conclusions of June 24, 2021, in which EU leaders reaffirmed that full implementation of the Minsk agreements remains the main condition for any major changes in the EU’s position on relations with Russia.
