Minsk Agreements Implemented Only Partially - Kremlin

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The situation in eastern Ukraine has considerably stabilized, but the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements is still being stalled, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

“Actually, there has been considerable stability since September 1 and, thank God, there is practically no shelling by Ukrainian forces at populated areas in Donbass. So, in this regard, we can say, of course, that there have been changes for the better, but conceptually, if we look at the other points of the agreement and not just talk about a ceasefire or withdrawal of artillery of whatever caliber from the line of contact, then here, unfortunately, it’s practically impossible to say there’s been improvement,” Peskov told journalists.

“We do not rule out the possibility of Normandy format talks on some level,” Peskov added.

Peskov said the sides will determine the schedule for such talks following ministerial-level telephone conversations.

“We expect the Normandy quartet contacts to arrange a meeting with the possible dates [for that meeting],” the Kremlin spokesman said.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, French President Francois Hollande said the Normandy quartet countries’ foreign ministers will “hold talks soon.”

Hollande added that he would suggest to convene the quartet session in Paris ahead of the September 28 UN General Assembly.

In February, the leaders of the Normandy countries brokered the Minsk ceasefire agreement, which established the conditions the government-led forces and independence supporters in east Ukraine were to implement in order to pave the way toward peace in the region.

The Normandy Quartet has been making attempts to secure a peaceful settlement to the conflict in eastern Ukraine since 2014. The group has held several rounds of talks at various levels on Ukrainian reconciliation.