In eastern Ukraine heavy fighting has once again broken out in the last few days, with many lives lost. The people in the area are facing a disastrous situation – thousands have no electricity or water.

Heavy weapons are not permissible

Speaking at the government press conference on Wednesday, federal government spokesperson Steffen Seibert reasserted that, "the German government strongly condemns this latest escalation in eastern Ukraine".

"Both sides are urgently called on to respect the agreed ceasefire and to refrain from any reciprocal provocation," continued Steffen Seibert. The German government condemns the use of heavy weapons in particular. Under the provisions of the Minsk agreements, "they should be nowhere near the contact line".

Humanitarian cessation of hostilities needed

In the interests of the almost 20,000 people, in particular in the town of Avdiivka, who have found themselves without electricity as temperatures drop below -15° Celsius, the infrastructure must be restored to working order immediately.

"We thus urge all sides to respect an immediate humanitarian cessation of hostilities, so that assistance can reach the civilian population, and the electricity and water supplies can be restored," stated the government spokesperson. This demand is clearly addressed to all sides in the conflict.

OSCE observers must be given "safe and unhindered access to the areas that are seeing heavy fighting". The worst affected towns are Avdiivka in Ukrainian-controlled territory and Yasynuvata in the area controlled by separatists. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission has recorded more than 11,500 ceasefire violations in the last 48 hours in the areas around these two towns.

When he visited Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday (30 January), Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko reported that separatists had shelled Ukrainian positions from residential parts of Donetsk and Yasynuvata using heavy artillery. Several people were killed.

Sanctions still in place

The German government and its partners within the EU and at transatlantic level are still of the opinion "that the lifting of sanctions will depend on the full implementation of the Minsk agreements" stressed Steffen Seibert. "Our intensive endeavours are directed at achieving progress in terms of implementing what has been agreed in the Normandy format; that is together with France, Ukraine and Russia."

Progress "is anything but satisfactory", since there cannot be said to be any lasting ceasefire. "But we will not stop demanding progress and working towards it – obviously with both partners," said the government spokesperson.