01/02/2017 Monitoring
The co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for Ukraine, Jordi Xucla (Spain, ALDE) and Axel Fischer (Germany, EPP/CD), have expressed their deep concern at the escalation of violence and ceasefire violations around the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka which have led to several fatalities on both sides over recent days.
“We call upon the pro-Russian separatists to immediately cease their offensive towards Avdiivka and from shelling civilian residential areas, which could lead to a humanitarian disaster and necessitate the evacuation of the civilian population."
They added: "All sides should fully adhere to the ceasefire agreement and withdraw their heavy weapons from the mutually agreed exclusion zone, as foreseen in the Minsk agreements."