During Normandy format talks held in Berlin, the Ukrainian side upheld its position on ensuring security and expanding the mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Donbas. This can be considered a diplomatic success for Ukraine, but the question of whether the agreements will be honored remains open, Penta Political Studies Director Volodmyr Fesenko has said.

"German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered the most accurate appraisal of the talks: she said certain progress had been made. That means there was no miracle. Indeed, a miracle could not have happened, because there were no precursors for one. But there is progress," Fesenko told Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

The political expert said results of the talks in Berlin are notable in that Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin delayed commenting on them for several hours.

"[Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko met with journalists immediately after the talks, but Putin waited until Merkel and Poroshenko had commented on them. I think Putin had nothing to say. If you have something to say, you come right out with it. Putin is bluffing, behaving like a smart alec, and keeps silent when he has nothing to say. They waited to formulate their line, their version [of the talks]," Fesenko said.

Reaching agreement on expanding the OSCE mission was another achievement in the talks.

"This can be considered a diplomatic victory. It is what Ukraine has called for: ensuring security and expanding the OSCE mission. The sides even agreed – and this was included in official communiqués from Berlin – to establish 200 OSCE stations … But how this will be done, unfortunately, we can already guess, based on bitter experience," the political expert said.

Fesenko said political issues were also discussed. He noted comments by German officials, who are usually more reserved in their statements than emotional French diplomats, mentioned no breakthrough on holding elections in occupied areas in eastern Ukraine.