The Minister for foreign Affairs of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier on may 29-30, will visit Ukraine, where he will meet with the country's leadership And representatives of the OSCE mission. As said Department spokesman Martin Schaefer, in Addition to Kyiv, Steinmeier plans to visit Kiev, and the Visit of the German Minister was intended as a "message of support" for Ukrainians.

"on the last working day of the week, may 29, He will hold a meeting with the Ukrainian leadership, and then, on the first day of the weekend will go into Eastern Ukraine. Not in the regions that control the separatists, and in the city of Dnepropetrovsk, " said Schaefer. In Dnepropetrovsk, As expected, the Minister will meet with the designated civil observation mission of the OSCE, which involved daily monitoring of developments in the field of conflict.

Ukraine will become the first point in the five-day business trip Steinmeier. Further, the Minister will travel to Israel And Palestine.


According to Schaefer in Germany are aware of the complexity of the political situation in the country And the situation in which is placed the Ukrainian leadership.

"the story is about the fact that in really complex And fragile situation in the economy, confidence to continue the course of reform. And all this in addition - amid still continuing fall in the East of Ukraine. For this reason, the position with Mr. Steinmeier is very important to continue And maintain a dialogue with the Ukrainian leadership, " said Commissioner of the Minister. He said That the last time the Minister for foreign Affairs of Germany had a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin week ago on the sidelines of the meeting of Ministers of foreign Affairs North Atlantic Commonwealth.

Berlin, said Schaefer, remains gravely concerned about the situation in General, As in the Eastern areas occupied And controlled by the militia, still unable to achieve complete ceasefire. The main flashpoints of the conflict and the analysis of the German foreign Ministry, remain the airport of Donetsk And Mariupol.

"We believe there is still a risk of military confrontations in the area of Mariupol And Donetsk airport ", - said the diplomat.


What about the main goal of Friday's visit, then the answer is simple - the trip is intended to be the support of Kiev.

"on the basis of the above complex situation in the economy in Ukraine the Visit, itself, must become a signal of support And encouragement of the Ukrainian leadership on the way very complex And hard course of reforms," said Schaefer.

in addition, As expected, in the process of bilateral negotiations with the authorities of the German delegation will discuss a plan to help Ukraine.

"We call it our" plan of action "Ukraine", said the Commissioner of the Ministry. Berlin wants his offers of assistance in the conduct of Ukrainian reforms have been used in the most optimal way.


Steinmeier's visit will take place on the background of the special operation in the Donbass, the Ukrainian authorities began in April last year against dissatisfied with the coup d'etat of residents of the region. According to the summary data of the UN, the victims of the conflict began more than 6, 2 thousand people.

in mid-may, the German Minister said That Western countries have plans to influence the parties to the conflict in the Donbas for concluding local agreements, for example, relying on access of the OSCE. According to his statement, the EU can try to influence the opinion of both parties local agreements, for example, relying on access of the OSCE in the conflict regions.

Russia And Germany jointly make efforts for resolving the fall in Ukraine, along with authorized Kiev And Paris they are in the format "channel four" produced in February an agreement on the withdrawal from the fall And agreed to make a control mechanism in the form of regular meetings of commissioners of foreign 4 countries.

The settlement of the situation in the Donbass is discussed, as well as among them, during meetings in Minsk contact group, which since September of last year already took 3 of the document governing the steps to de-escalate the conflict. One of the most important points signed in February of the Minsk agreements was the constitutional reform, and the enactment of a permanent law on the special status of separate districts of Donetsk And Lugansk regions. The agreement notes That decentralization should take place in coordination specifically, the commissioners of these districts, however, the Kiev authorities are ignoring this provision, arguing about the fact That you are unwilling to have a dialogue with the authorized rebellious territories. Read the full text of the Minsk agreements "

sections: Politics