Putin Hopes for New Ceasefire Deal to End Armed Conflict in Eastern Ukraine
MOSCOW, December 6 (Sputnik) — Russia insists the Minsk agreements should be fully implemented, however all Ukrainian warring sides violate the agreement, including Kyiv and independence supporters from eastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday.
“We speak for their [Minsk agreements] full implementation. At the same time, we note that from the Kyiv authorities’ side, as well as from Donetsk and Luhansk sides, from both sides not everything is implemented,” Putin said.
“We will hope that Kyiv, Donetsk and Luhansk will be able to achieve such mutually acceptable conclusions, which will satisfy all sides, and, most importantly, stop the military part of the conflict on this stage,” Putin added.
Putin Hopes Final Decision on Ceasefire in Ukraine Will Be Taken Soon
Russia hopes that a final decision on a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine will be taken soon, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday.
“The situation is tragic, people are still dying. But I hope that in the near future the decision will finally be taken, concerning the ceasefire,” Putin told journalists.
Putin Calls on Kyiv to Promptly Withdraw Artillery From Demarcation Line in East Ukraine
Putin on Saturday called on Kyiv authorities to promptly withdraw its artillery and multiple rocket launchers from the demarcation line separating the warring sides in Eastern Ukraine.
“As for the line of withdrawal of artillery and multiple rocket launchers, there is no ambiguity. Everyone agrees that it should be done as soon as possible,” Putin told reporters after talks with his French counterpart Francois Hollande.
“I really hope that it will be done in the nearest future, because only after this happens, after attacks and loss of life stop, only then we can talk about the onset of the political process and the establishment of common political space,” the Russian leader said.
Putin Calls on Kyiv to Cease Blockade of Eastern Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he expects Kyiv to exclude any possibility of a blockade of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk republics.
“Otherwise it is difficult to imagine the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Russia, as you know, supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the president told reporters.