KYIV. Oct 12 (Interfax) - Ukraine and the European Union have called on Russia to assume responsibility for the crisis in Donbas and promote the ceasefire and the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, a joint statement released following the 23rd Ukraine-EU summit said.
"We condemn the violation of the ceasefire by Russia-backed armed formations and call on Russia to fully assume its responsibility in this regard and to use its considerable influence over the armed formations it backs, to re-establish a comprehensive ceasefire, to meet the Minsk commitments in full, and to ensure free and unhindered access of the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] Special Monitoring Mission to the non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine, including the areas along the Ukrainian-Russian State border, in accordance with its mandate," the document approved by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
The statement also regrets Russia's decision not to agree to an extension of the mandate of the OSCE Border Observation Mission at two checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border (Gukovo and Donetsk), which "contradicts the spirit of the Minsk Agreements and does not contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine."
Additionally, Russia was urged to withdraw its troops and military hardware from Ukraine's eastern border and the Crimean Peninsula.
"We strongly urge Russia to meet its commitments under the Vienna Document, and to provide more transparency and to credibly explain the deployment of military forces and equipment in these areas," the statement said.
The duration of the EU economic sanctions on Russia remains clearly linked to the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements, it said.
The statement condemned Russia's continuing measures "encouraging Ukrainian citizens" in the areas currently outside of the Ukrainian government's control to apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner, as well as issuing Russian passports to Ukrainian citizens, which contradicts the Minsk Agreements.