On Friday (17 July), in a conference call with French President François Hollande, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the Chancellor once again discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine and the implementation status of the Minsk agreements, reported Christiane Wirtz, deputy government spokesperson.

At the government press conference, the spokesperson of the Federal Foreign Office, Martin Schäfer, voiced his regret that there is still no sign that the crisis in eastern Ukraine is being defused, far less ended. At the weekend, following the Chancellor’s conference call, Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke with his three Normandy Group counterparts "at this important phase of the implementation of the Minks agreements".

On 6 June 2014, Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Vladimir Putin, Petro Poroshenko and François Hollande, all of whom were in Normandy to attend the 70th anniversary celebrations of the D-day landings. It was the first time the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine had met since the crisis erupted. Since then, meetings of representatives of these four countries have been referred to as Normandy format meetings.

Withdrawals of troops long overdue

The German government welcomes the announcement of the separatists in Russian media that they are respecting the Minsk agreements along practically the entire front line, and that they intend to withdraw heavy weapons. "We’ve been here before," said Martin Schäfer. "It would be a step forward, a necessary step, but one that should have happened a long time ago."

The spokesperson of the Federal Foreign Office stressed, however, that there are no reports of any independent OSCE confirmation of the separatists’ announcement. "We are still waiting for an OSCE appraisal, an assessment, a judgement of the separatists’ announcement." Until this is forthcoming, it is too soon to speak of any real progress.

Implementing the Minsk agreements

Nevertheless, against the background of the "still extremely difficult situation" the German government calls on all parties involved to respect the Minsk agreements, and expects them to do so. "This applies to the withdrawal of heavy weapons. This applies to the ceasefire. This applies to the verification and monitoring of all these measures by the OSCE." It equally applies to the political process, which is also part of these agreements, added Martin Schäfer.

In this context, on behalf of the German government, the Federal Foreign Minister has welcomed the fact that, in a first reading, the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, last week voted for an amendment to the country’s constitution. The amendment tackles and implements a whole series of points. "We believe that this is an important step in the right direction – provided progress continues," stressed the spokesperson.

The Minsk agreements aim to bring peace and security to a sovereign Ukraine. A first agreement was signed in September 2014, followed on 12 February 2015 by the agreement on a package of measures. The 13-point plan primarily provides for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and the establishment of buffer zones between the parties to the conflict. Preparations are also to be made for political reforms and free elections.

Pushing ahead with the political process

This reform process is not yet completed. Over the last few months, however, with pressure from the representatives of the Normandy Group "working groups have been established under the Trilateral Contact Group". According to Martin Schäfer they are to make every effort "to get to grips" with the political process laid out in the Minsk package of measures. On Tuesday (21 July) another meeting of the Contact Group and the political working groups is planned.

Here too the German government "calls on all those involved – including the separatists – to take this format seriously and to table the important issues at these meetings".

The Trilateral Contact Group brings together representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Ukraine and Russia.

Acting in line with the law

In view of the violent clashes between members of the self-styled Right Sector in western Ukraine and Ukrainian government security forces, Martin Schäfer stressed, "No state can tolerate extra-legal activities of a criminal nature." Anyone acting unlawfully or criminally or committing offences must be stopped. The government of Ukraine has the support of the German government in these efforts to uphold law and order in line with the rule of law.

Complete investigation of the crash of flight MH-17

Friday (17 July) marked the first anniversary of the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH-17 over eastern Ukraine. Federal government spokesperson Christiane Wirtz stressed that the German government supports all efforts to investigate this incident. This includes the establishment of a UN tribunal as demanded by the Netherlands and Malaysia, the two countries most directly affected. "The German government welcomes every option of establishing the full facts about this appalling and tragic event," said Christiane Wirtz.

On 17 July 2014 a passenger plane crashed over separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine. Malaysian Airlines flight MH-17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 passengers, most of them Dutch citizens, were killed. Four Germans were also among the victims. An international commission investigating the crash has ascertained that the aircraft was downed by a Russian-built missile. It is still not clear who fired the missile. The final report is to be filed in October 2015.