Agro Perspectiva

Poroshenko, Steinmeier discussed ways to ensure Minsk agreements implementation

01.06.2015 09:17 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — As of the last week, the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President Petro Poroshenko Press Office reports. As to the report, the parties discussed ways to ensure the implementation of the Minsk agreements on the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas and the assistance of Germany to the implementation of reforms in Ukraine. Reportedly, the interlocutors also discussed the EU’s further solidarity with Ukraine and coordinated positions on the eve of the G7 Summit that will be held in Germany in June. As to the report, Poroshenko emphasized that the Normandy format had demonstrated a high level of actions’ coordination on the search of the peaceful solution and de-escalation of the situation in Donbas and helped implement the Peace Plan of the President. Besides, Poroshenko also noted that his Peace Plan had been endorsed by the EU, UN, G7 and Japan. «There is no alternative to the Peace Plan, which includes ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weaponry, liberation of hostages, access for the OSCE monitoring mission, beginning of the political process and holding of free and fair local elections,» the President said. In his turn, the German Foreign Minister stated his intention to visit Dnipropetrovsk and examine the situation in the field. He also expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in Donbas due to the increase of the number of attacks. «We respect your actions on state reformation,» Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted. As to him, it is extremely difficult to solve the security problem in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and reform the country at the same time. As to the report, Steinmeier informed on the decision of the German Government to open the credit line for Ukraine in the amount of EUR500 million in addition to EUR200 million already allocated. These funds should be spent for the maintenance of financial stability in Ukraine, increase of energy efficiency, restoration of infrastructure and building of houses. Reportedly, Poroshenko highlighted the importance of efforts’ coordination in the restoration of Donbas and search of investments for the restoration of destroyed infrastructure and creation of jobs. «I am very grateful that Germany, German people and you personally demonstrate powerful solidarity with Ukraine and clear signal of unity in the European Union,» the President said adding that Germany had reaffirmed its European leadership in the situation around Ukraine.