Basic differences remain over implementation roadmap of Minsk agreements – Germany's Ambassador to Ukraine

KYIV. April 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The discussions of the roadmap for the implementation of the Minsk agreements have showed that there remain basic differences with Russia, and there is still no agreed text, German Ambassador to Ukraine Ernst Reichel has said.

"The discussions on the roadmap showed that there are basic differences in particular in the timing of the steps.... Whether we discuss this with the help of a draft roadmap or without one - it turns out the differences remain and therefore there is no agreed text," Reichel said during a joint interview with French Ambassador to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont with Interfax-Ukraine.

The ambassador said Germany, France and Ukraine insist that ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons are priority conditions for the region's security.

"We have Ukraine, France and Germany who say that first we need the ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons. We have Russia, which insists on the political points which are contained in the Minsk agreement," the diplomat added.

Dumont for her part said that France and Germany are also in close cooperation with the U.S. concerning Ukraine.

"Any time U.S. Special Representative on Ukraine Kurt Volker has discussions on Ukraine, there are consultations with French and German officials. So, there is very close cooperation between the three countries, between their capitals. This is actually quite smooth. There is no difference in the substance of what is the aim, which is the implementation of the Minsk agreements, ceasefire, etc.," she explained.