“We welcome the agreement on a ceasefire reached in Minsk today at the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group. The ceasefire agreement must now be respected and fully implemented by all sides,” EU High Representative’s spokesperson said in a statement.

“We hope that this will be a first step towards a sustainable political solution, based on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the spokesperson said.

“Permanent monitoring of the Russian-Ukrainian border and withdrawal of illegal armed groups and Russian forces illegally operating on Ukrainian territory should be integral parts of such a solution,” the statement added.

“The EU stands ready to support any efforts related to the implementation of the ceasefire, including through the OSCE. We will continue to follow closely the developments on the ground,” the spokesperson said.