Belgian deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders welcomes the adoption in Minsk by the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine of the « Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements » and the declaration by the French, Ukrainian and Russian Presidents and the German Chancellor in support of this agreement. He commends the tireless efforts of President François Hollande and Chancellor Angela Merkel in favour of a solution to this crisis.

This agreement confirms the ceasefire of last September, that has been violated repeatedly. Belgium hopes that, this time, there will be political will to respect the ceasefire in practice, allowing for a military de-escalation. The absolute priority is to stop the bloodshed. Without being a comprehensive agreement, this package of measures creates the necessary space for a political settlement, including by providing for a dialogue on the organization of local elections in the Donbass and the restoration of the central Ukrainian State’s control on the interstate border with Russia.

Didier Reynders also welcomes the announcement, this 12 February, by the IMF of a new 17.5 billion dollar credit for Ukraine. For Belgium, only a policy combining firmness, dialogue and solidarity can contribute to resolving the conflict.