Russia at Normandy format talks confirmed determination to observe Minsk agreements – Makeyev

At the meeting of foreign ministers on the Normandy Format in Paris Russia confirmed its commitment to the Minsk agreements, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Politics and Communication Department Director Oleksiy Makeyev said.

"We received from Russia confirmation of its commitment to fulfill the Minsk agreements," Makeyev said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, adding that this was the main result of the talks.

The meeting lasted for four hours and was "complicated", he said.

All sides involved noted the need for deescalating the conflict and stopping the fire along the entire separation line, he added.

Makeyev also said that OSCE was named as the main instrument of implementing the Minsk agreements at the talks. The sides also pledge to facilitate the access of OSCE monitors to Donbas.

The diplomat named the beginning of the dialogue on elections in individual parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as the next result of the talks. "I want to inform you about the beginning of a dialogue on issues of modality of holding elections in Donetsk and Luhansk regions with the involvement of OSCE," the diplomat said.

The release of hostages was also discussed.

Asked by journalists whether the Ukrainian side is satisfied with the outcome of the talks of the foreign ministers Makeyev said that control over all Ukrainian territories should be restored for Ukraine to be satisfied.

"We will be satisfied when Ukraine restores control over all of its territories," he stressed.