Both sides report violations of cease-fire in Ukraine

The ministerial visit came after one of the bloodiest days in weeks on Tuesday which saw government forces and the separatists each lose three fighters. Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Jean-Marc Ayrault have just returned from Moscow, where they discussed the ways of implementation of the constantly violated Minsk agreements.

Although the situation appeared quiet, “it is still too early to speculate that this will be permanent”, Steinmeier said.

(L-R) French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier hold a joint press conference in Kiev, September 14, 2016.

He spoke in the shadow of a bridge in the town of Sloviansk that was bombed in May 2014 by Russia-backed separatists, and which is now being rebuilt by Ukraine at an estimated cost of 1.3 million euros (£1.1 million). Officials in Moscow deny any direct role in the conflict, which has brought the Kremlin’s relations with Western Europe to their lowest level since the Cold War.

The German and French foreign ministers made their first visit to Ukraine’s war-torn east on Thursday, saying they wanted to push a new bid for peace after a recent surge in violence. “If this visit contributes to Ukraine’s implementation of commitments, then it can only be welcomed”, Peskov told journalists on Thursday.

Steinmeier delivered new equipment to the OSCE observers, including 1,200 pairs of gloves, binoculars, Global Positioning System trackers and clothing.

Despite the fact that the deal stipulated a full ceasefire in Donbas, violations both on the part of Kiev forces and local militia have been reported.

Government officials say Ukraine can not hold the elections until security conditions allow for them and national forces have regained control of the border with Russian Federation – another point of the Minsk agreement not yet implemented.

On Thursday, a new report from the United Nations’ human rights division raised its tally of people killed in the conflict to 9,640.