Ukraine Crisis: Russia Accuses Kiev of Not Adhering to Minsk Protocol

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman has stated that Ukraine is not adhering to the Minsk Protocol, an agreement which formed the basis of a ceasefire between Kiev's forces and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Alexander Lukashevich said that Moscow has serious concerns about Kiev's non-compliance with the Minsk agreement, according to Interfax news agency.

"The question is that how the conflicting parties fulfil their obligations. We raise the questions and we voice concern over the fact how the Kiev authorities do not fulfil their obligations [to the Minsk agreement]," he said.

"I cited the public statements by the Ukrainian defense minister saying the armed actions are to be resumed.

"This scenario should be categorically prevented. Russia calls for preventing it and urges other participants to follow its example. This would be a catastrophe from the point of view of the situation in Ukraine," he added.

Lukashevich said that no Russian military units are present in the southeastern regions of Ukraine.

"I'm telling you very officially there are no military units and no movements of the military across the Russian-Ukrainian border in the south-east of Ukraine and there haven't been any," he said.

"We cannot but note one-sided information materials of this mission intensifying recently over the situation in Donbass. Concentration of Ukrainian military forces is almost not reflected," he added in relation to reports from the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who have missions present in Ukraine.

In September, talks in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, between Ukraine, Russia and the separatists saw a nine-point deal completed which was to implement a peace plan in the country's eastern regions where clashes have raged for months.

Fighting between Kiev's forces and the Russian-backed separatists has killed more than 4,000 people since April.

Earlier, the US condemned Russia's disregard for the ceasefire agreement in Ukraine after Nato reports accused Russia of deploying troops and military vehicles in the country.

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