Russia, Kazakhstan show unified position on Ukraine, says Lavrov

“We have a unified position. It is necessary to fully implement the February 12 agreements reached in Minsk,” Russian Foreign Minister said.

Russia and Kazakhstan have a unified position on Ukraine and insist on implementation of ceasefire agreements signed in Minsk, Belarus, in February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday after talks with his Kazakh counterpart Erlan Idrissov.

“We have certainly discussed the situation in Ukraine,” Lavrov said. “We have a unified position. It is necessary to fully implement the February 12 agreements reached in Minsk.”

“We highly appreciate Kazakhstan’s role in creating the right atmosphere around international discussions aimed at directing efforts of all international players towards urging the sides to strictly follow the achieved agreements,” he said, adding that establishing direct dialogue between the authorities in Kiev and representatives of east Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk republics was “a key element of success”.

The peace deal struck in the Belarusian capital by leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France called for a ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and people’s militias starting from February 15.
This was to be followed by withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of military engagement by at least 15 kilometres (9 miles), prisoner release and agreement for international observers to monitor the truce.