G7 Ready to Adopt New Measures if Minsk Agreement Violated

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The leaders of the G7 countries will implement new measures against violators of the Minsk declaration, which was agreed upon on Thursday to pave the way for a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine, the G7 said in a statement on Friday.

“The G7 stands ready to adopt appropriate measures against those who violate the ‘Minsk package’ and therefore intensify the costs for them, in particular against those who do not observe the agreed comprehensive ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons,” the G7 statement, released by the White House, said.

Implementation of the Minsk agreements offers a way to peaceful resolution to the crisis in eastern Ukraine, all sides should adhere strictly to the agreements, G7 stated.

“Implementation of the “Minsk Package” offers a way forward to a comprehensive, sustainable, and peaceful resolution to the crisis in eastern Ukraine,” according to the G7 statement, released by the White House. “We urge all sides to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Package and to carry out its measures without delay, starting with a ceasefire on the 15th of February.”

The leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, and Russia held a 16-hour summit in Minsk on Wednesday and early Thursday resulting in a new political deal focused on stopping the deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine that has claimed lives of more than 5,400 people since April 2014.

The new Minsk agreement calls for a ceasefire to begin at midnight on February 15 and for a mutual withdrawal of heavy weapons by both sides to create a security cushion in the conflict zone.

The G7 is a European Commission of leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States.