Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The EU has been at the forefront of international efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, and Ireland has participated actively in shaping the Union’s approach. An agreement was reached in Minsk on 12 February on a new peace deal aimed at ending the ten-month conflict in eastern Ukraine. The declaration agreed in Minsk by Chancellor Merkel, President Hollande, President Putin and President Poroschenko, and the package of measures signed by the parties to the conflict, provide for a ceasefire in and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from eastern Ukraine. The package also contains a timetable for the implementation of key parts of the September Minsk agreements, including local elections and securing Ukraine’s border with Russia. I welcome and fully support the 12 February peace agreement which provides the basis for a comprehensive resolution of the crisis. It is vital that the parties to the agreement abide by the commitments to which they have signed up.

The ceasefire came into effect at midnight on 14 February. Unfortunately, despite agreeing to a truce, Russian-backed separatists continued a full-scale assault on Debaltseve and forced Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the town, which is now in rebel hands. I strongly condemn the assault on Debaltseve. It is a major breach of the ceasefire and threatens to undermine the deal brokered in Minsk on 12 February. The rebels indicated last weekend a readiness to begin pulling back their heavy weapons from the contact line. A significant number of prisoners have also been exchanged.

I have not discussed the situation in Ukraine with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov. My French and German colleagues, however, have been in regular contact with him in the lead-up to the negotiation of the Minsk agreement and subsequently. They have highlighted the need for Russia to use its considerable influence over the rebels to ensure full compliance with their obligations under the 12 February agreement. EU member states have been kept informed of these exchanges, including at the informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government on 12 February.

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