German FM Expects Russia, Ukraine to Comply With Minsk Agreements: Reports

BERLIN, November 24 (Sputnik) – Russia and Ukraine are both expected to comply with the Minsk agreements on Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine following a visit to Moscow and Kiev last week.

"I came back from Kiev and Moscow with the feeling that [Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will adhere to the Minsk agreements. In the light of the difficult situation [created by] the conflict on the ground, this is very little and insufficient. But this is a basis which we can work on further," Steinmeier was quoted by the magazine as saying.

The minister earlier commented not to write off the Minsk agreement on resolving the crisis in Ukraine, but added that a political solution and the easing of tensions are still distant prospects.

According to earlier reports in the German media, Foreign Minister Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel have different views on relations with Russia amid the Ukrainian conflict. Merkel called for a tougher position, while Steinmeier advocated restraint so that the West could take advantage of the opportunity to ease tensions.

The September 5 Minsk talks led to a ceasefire agreement between Kiev and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's republics, following months of fighting. On September 19, the sides signed a memorandum specifying steps for the truce implementation. However, the warring sides have subsequently accused one another of violating the ceasefire on a daily basis.