18/02/2015 President
Today Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), made a statement relating to the on-going fighting in the east of Ukraine, including in Debaltseve.
“I regret that despite the agreement reached in Minsk last week and yesterday’s UN Security Council resolution, the violence in eastern Ukraine has not stopped. The fighting has been especially intense in Debaltseve, where the Russian-backed separatist forces have clearly sought to extend their control over the region.
This constitutes a flagrant violation of the cease-fire agreement. There can be no military solution to the conflict, and today I reiterate the call to respect the cease-fire - the only chance for progress towards the much-wanted peace.
I support the calls of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and PACE’s Rapporteur on the political consequences of the crisis in Ukraine Kristýna Zelienková, who is currently in Kyiv, for a safe passage for those who wish to leave Debaltseve.”