Ukraine - Q&A from the press briefing (26 October 2020)

Q: According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration, the local elections in the Donbas region will take place after control of the territories has been regained. This will in fact mean a rejection of the Minsk agreements. What is your comment regarding these statements?

A: The heads of state and government of the Normandy format reaffirmed during the summit in Paris on December 9 that the Minsk agreements remain the basis of the efforts to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

In this context, France, alongside Germany, is continuing its efforts within the Normandy format to encourage progress toward implementing these agreements, the ultimate goal of which remains the return of the Donbas region to full Ukrainian sovereignty and the establishment of just and lasting peace in this region after the holding of free and transparent elections in compliance with international standards, the OSCE with respect to democratic elections and Ukrainian legislation.