Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine finishes in Minsk

1 февраля 2017

The Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine urges the conflicting parties to strictly observe the ceasefire, as stated by OSCE Special Representative Martin Sajdik.
Focusing on the escalation of the Avdeyevka conflict, the talks resulted in a statement made by the representatives of the Contact Group and individual districts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which was supported by all participants of the meeting.

According to Sajdik, the Trilateral Contact Group urges the conflicting parties to observe the ceasefire and withdraw the weapon systems subject to the Minsk agreements to previously specified distances by 5 February. Apart from that, the document calls for providing OSCE representatives with a safe access to the conflict zone so that they could fulfill their duties and ensure humanitarian efforts aimed at restoring heating, water and electricity supply, including by repairing infrastructure facilities.

Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council Alexander Turchinov has visited the frontline in Avdeyevka today, instructing the military to prepare for an offensive on the part of separatists and be ready for a counter-attack.