(VOVworld) – Russia and Ukraine have agreed to establish demilitarized zones and take security measures in areas controlled by pro-independence forces in eastern Ukraine.
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Foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov of Russia, Pavlo Klimkin of Ukraine, Jean-Marc Ayrault of France, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany (L-R) pose for a picture outside German foreign ministry's guest house Villa Borsig in Berlin, Germany, May 11, 2016. (Photo: Reuters)
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The announcement followed a Wednesday meeting in Berlin between the 4 members of the Normandy format (Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia) to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said full implementation of the Minsk peace accord to maintain the shaky ceasefire in the eastern region would be a big step toward ending the crisis.
The four also agreed to further information-sharing and a halt to military drills along the front between government forces and pro-independence fighters in eastern Ukraine. But, according to Steinmeier, the group reached no consensus on conducting elections.