German Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is convinced that now it is time for Russia to fulfill its obligations on Donbas settlement.
For over five years, people in Ukraine have been separated by war, which took more than 13,000 lives, so this war must be stopped, Maas said at a joint press conference in Kyiv with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Vadym Prystaiko, an UNIAN correspondent reports.
"We have the best opportunity in a long time to change something," Maas said.
The German foreign minister emphasized that after Volodymyr Zelensky was elected president of Ukraine, people got "new hope."
"Important steps have been taken both in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske: troops were withdrawn and a bridge is being built. We know that this is all painstaking work, but these changes are very important to people," he said.
Maas emphasized that the residents of Donbas need ceasefire, while it is also necessary to restore key infrastructure.
At the same time, in his conviction, time has come for Russia to fulfill its commitments on Donbas.
"From our perspective, it's now Russia's turn to implement negotiations," said Maas.
