You're reading: Poroshenko convinced Ukraine crisis can be settled only peacefully, based on Minsk accords

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is convinced that the conflict in eastern Ukraine will be settled exclusively peacefully based on the Minsk agreements. 

“We have a joint agreement that we are resolving this conflict exclusively
based on my peace plan implemented in the Minsk agreements, the Minsk protocol
of September 5 and the Minsk memorandum of September 19,” Poroshenko said at a
joint press conference with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Kyiv on Dec. 16.

Poroshenko stressed that “the preservation of the state’s sovereignty and
restoration of its territorial integrity” are priorities for him and for all
Ukrainian people.

“I said at the meeting today that we can overcome the challenges that are
currently facing Ukraine by combining our efforts,” he said.

Mogherini said the European Union will insist on the implementation of the
Minsk agreements designed to settle the situation in Ukraine, the conclusion of
which was one of the rare good news in 2014.

She supported Poroshenko in saying that the Minsk agreements are the only way
through which Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity can be preserved.

The EU is determined to make sure that the Minsk agreements be fulfilled,
Mogherini said.