Ukrainian diplomat calls for implementation of Minsk agreement

A senior Ukrainian diplomat here called for the full implementation of the latest Minsk peace agreement.

Yurii Klymenko, permanent representative of Ukraine to the UN Office in Geneva, Tuesday said that the Ukrainian government considers the implementation of the Minsk agreement as "the only way to peaceful settlement" of the situation in Debaltseve in Donetsk region, Xinhua reported.

Klymenko reiterated an earlier statement from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, saying that the Ukraine government "expects this agreement to be finally fulfilled and the opposite party to treat the implementation of the agreement with appropriate attention."

Klymenko said it was important for "all parties engaged to follow their commitments."

The latest peace agreement was reached after negotiations between leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France last Thursday in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, aimed at ending the conflict, which has claimed the lives of over 5,300 people so far.

But the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was marred by heavy fighting in the past day between government forces and pro-independence opponents for the town of Debaltseve, reports showed Tuesday.

The warring sides traded accusations of initiating fresh attacks and claimed to control the town, a key regional railway junction, where violence is continuing for the fourth week in a row.

Top leaders of Russia, Germany and Ukraine have agreed on a monitoring mission by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in eastern Ukraine.

The OSCE serves as a mediator and observer of the implementation of the Minsk agreement.

Klymenko said that the OSCE would have the right to access Debaltseve, "which would allow for a stabilisation of the situation there."