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Steinmeier says possible to agree truce in Ukraine with no preliminary conditions

The German top diplomat says agreements require the parties’ readiness for compromises

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier AP Photo/Hektor Pustina

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

© AP Photo/Hektor Pustina

BERLIN, September 13. /TASS/. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is currently visiting Riga, said on Tuesday he sees possibilities for agreeing a lasting truce in eastern Ukraine without preliminary conditions.

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"After talks with [Ukraine’s Foreign Minister] Pavel Klimkin in Berlin several days ago and with [Russian Foreign Minister] Sergei Lavrov yesterday, I think it is possible to agree a lasting truce without preliminary conditions," the German foreign ministry quoted him as saying.

He said that the current regime of silence that has been in place in Donbass since September 1 proves the parties’ ability to negotiate and "improve the situation." However, in his words, reliable agreements require the parties’ readiness for compromises and will for the implementation of the agreed deals.

He reminded that he plans to visit Kiev on Wednesday, along with his French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, to discuss with the Ukrainian president, prime minister and representatives of political parties ways to give a fresh impetus to the implementation of the Minsk package on crisis settlement.

"Our initiative on ceasefire and political process are on the table," he added.

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