Merkel: The situation with the Minsk Agreements remains complicated
The situation with the regard to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements remains complicated. This was announced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a joint press conference with Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas in Tallinn on the 24th of August.
“The situation with the implementation of the Minsk Agreements is extremely complicated. We have not achieved everything that we wanted,” she said, adding that “it's necessary to find a way out together and I hope that with joint efforts, including having France’s assistance, we will find a way,” Merkel said.
She also said that Estonia and Germany work together both in the EU and NATO. “Our cooperation extends to Article 5 of NATO,” Merkel stressed.
Merkel was asked how Germany’s policy could change in light of the upcoming elections. She was also asked to comment on the statements of the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, with regard to the undesirability of “saber-rattling” on the border with their eastern neighbor. Merkel responded that she “would like to point out that the federal government, which works within the big coalition, unanimously supported the decisions made in Warsaw. That's what matters”.
Rõivas said that Europe “should not forget about Ukraine and must adhere to a common position on sanctions against Russia”.
“The military escalation in eastern Ukraine and provocations in the Crimea show that unfortunately, Russia is not yet ready for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. As long as Russia does not comply with the Minsk Agreements, we cannot talk about the easing of sanctions,” Rõivas said.