BERLIN, November 28. /TASS/. German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expects neither breakthrough nor any sensations at the meeting of the "Normandy Four" (Russia, Germany, France, Ukraine) foreign ministers in Minsk, German Foreign Ministry spokesman, Martin Schaefer, told a press briefing on Monday.
"Minister Steinmeier is traveling to Minsk tomorrow to discuss with his counterparts in the Normandy format further steps on the implementation of the Minsk agreements," he noted.
"His expectations concerning this meeting are modest. Unfortunately, intense talks and consultations held over the past few weeks, as well as statements by the conflicting parties, do not give much hope that there will be any sensations tomorrow," Schaefer said. He added that the German Foreign Ministry expects no breakthrough on political issues either.
"Of course, we will push ahead with efforts to implement the decisions made in Minsk and during the subsequent meetings," Schaefer said, adding that "apparently, the parties to the conflict are unable to control ceasefire violations and end the hostilities."
"Tomorrow it will be important for us to get a clear signal from the Russian and Ukrainian ministers on their commitment to the implementation of the Minsk accords and decisions made by the heads of state and government at the meeting in Berlin a month ago. This includes both work on a roadmap, which is to specify the Minsk plan, and the progress in consolidating the truce by identifying new areas for the parties’ disengagement," he said.