Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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445. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the recent discussions at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on the Ukrainian crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48978/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Syria and Iraq were the main focus of the Foreign Affairs Council on 15 December, which was attended by my colleague Minister of State Dara Murphy. In relation to Ukraine, the Council confirmed its agreement to strengthen EU restrictive measures in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. The details of the proposed measures are being finalised at official level in Brussels.The past days have seen a welcome reduction in reported incidences of violence in eastern Ukraine. On 9 December, all Ukrainian troops ceased fire for a “Day of Silence” upon the initiative of President Poroshenko, and separatist militants ceased their use of heavy artillery. However, the situation remains very fragile and efforts are continuing to secure a resumption of peace talks in the framework of the OSCE Trilateral Contact Group. It is crucial that all sides fully implement the commitments they signed up to under the Minsk ceasefire and peace plan agreed in September. We remain hopeful that the EU’s measures in relation to Russia, coupled with continued political and diplomatic engagement with the various sides involved in the conflict, will create the conditions that ultimately lead to a sustainable political solution to the crisis.