“Today, a year since that briefing, tensions in and around Ukraine are running higher than at any point since 2014. Speculation and accusations around a potential military conflict are rife. Whatever one believes about the prospect of such a confrontation, the reality is that the current situation is extremely dangerous,” Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN undersecretary-general, told a Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

DiCarlo emphasized that the issues underpinning the current crisis are complex and longstanding.

“Although seemingly intractable, given the stakes involved for our collective security and European stability, these issues can and must be solved through diplomacy and the full use of the many available regional and other mechanisms and frameworks,” DiCarlo underlined. “Regrettably, there has been little, if any, meaningful progress in the implementation of the various provisions of the Minsk Agreements. Despite repeated efforts, the talks both in the Normandy Four format and the discussions led by the Trilateral Contact Group remain deadlocked. We welcome the efforts of France and Germany to host the recent N4 discussions to break the current impasse and hope that these will continue.”

DiCarlo underscored that the Minsk Agreements remain the only framework endorsed by this Council, in resolution 2202, for a negotiated, peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

“In this regard, we note with concern the reports of fresh ceasefire violations across the contact line over the past several hours.  If verified, these must not be allowed to escalate further. We call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint at this time.”

“We also call on all concerned to refrain from any unilateral measures that may go against the letter and spirit of the Minsk Agreements, or undermine their implementation and result in further tensions including related to the certain areas of Luhansk and Donetsk,” she added. (ILKHA)