The full implementation of Minsk agreements is impossible without the withdrawal of weaponry and troops from eastern Ukraine and the returning of the external border to Ukraine's control, President of European Parliament (EP) Martin Schultz said on December 17 speaking at the European Council.

"Without doubt it's a positive development that the ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk in February of this year is being largely respected. But many other points of the Minsk agreement are still awaiting implementation. Among them the agreed decentralisation reform and local elections in Donbas but also, and most importantly, the withdrawal of weaponry and troops, and the returning of the external border to Ukraine's control. Only when these conditions are fully met can we expect a lasting peace in Eastern Ukraine," he said.

He said that earlier President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of ht eEuropean Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and he met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine.

"To guarantee a lasting peace it is equally important to support Ukraine in stabilising its economy, ensuring its energy independence and pushing forward the necessary judicial and anti-corruption reforms. The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement will finally come into force this January and we must ensure its successful implementation. Visa liberalisation should also be prioritised for Ukraine and Georgia and we expect a positive opinion of the European Commission in the nearest future. I encourage the Member States to endorse this decision," Schultz said.