Illegal armed groups continue violating the Minsk Agreements on the settlement of the situation in the east of Ukraine, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine on European Integration Ihor Dolhov has said at a meeting with a delegation of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, we have facts of violations of the agreements by the Russian-terrorist forces. We have losses, including among the civilian population. I would like to note once again that this conflict is not an internal conflict of Ukraine, it is the conflict of Europe and the threat to whole European security system," Dolhov said.

According to him, the situation with forces’ withdrawal remains to be difficult due to violations of the ceasefire regime by militants, despite the political reached agreements. Dolhov said that it would be difficult for Ukraine to resist Russian aggression without the strong support of partners, and urged European partners to strengthen the sanctions regime against the aggressor.

As reported on the official website of the Defense Ministry, representatives of the European Parliament were interested in the military-political situation in the zone of anti terrorist operation (ATO), the state of reforming the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the defense sector in conditions of the Russian military aggression.

Chairman of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Anna Fotyga assured the representatives of the Ukrainian side in further support in the fight against the Russian propaganda and aggression, the website of Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.