German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warns that Moscow would be unilaterally breaching the 2015 Minsk peace accords if it were to recognize the independence of east Ukraine’s rebel republics.
In a call between Scholz and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, the German leader underlines “such a step would be a gross contradiction of the Minsk agreement for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in east Ukraine and a unilateral breach of these deals from the Russian side.”
Scholz, whose country currently holds the presidency of the G7, also urges Putin to “immediately de-escalate and withdraw the massed forces from the borders to Ukraine.”
“He stressed that it was now particularly important to observe the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and to set signs of detente,” according to a statement issued by the chancellery.
“Russia has a particular responsibility here,” he says.
Following the conversation, Scholz is currently consulting with his “closest partners” including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, the chancellery says.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says the union is “ready to act” if Putin recognizes the separatists.
Earlier today, Putin said he was considering the move.
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, February 21, 2022
