News and press releases

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and security considerations – noted that fighting continued around the eastern flank of Mariupol near government-controlled Berdianske and in several other locations in the Donetsk region. Only a few ceasefire violations were observed in the Luhansk region.

VIENNA, 25 February 2015 – Representatives of Ukrainian and Russian journalists’ unions today called for an end to impunity for killings and attacks on journalists, following a meeting in Vienna under the auspices of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. The unions’ representatives also urged all members of the media not to take part in the ongoing information war in the conflict in and around Ukraine...

COPENHAGEN, 25 February 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) today issued the following statement on continuing restrictions imposed on OSCE monitors in Ukraine and the need for full Russian support:

NEW YORK, 25 February – Briefing the UN Security Council on Serbia’s Chairmanship priorities and co-operation between the OSCE and the UN, OSCE Chairperson in Office, Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, said that partnership between the two organizations is extremely important for effectively addressing security challenges in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian space...

PARIS, 24 February, 2015- "We welcome the determination of the Ministers of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine, who met in Paris today, that the package of measures agreed in Minsk must be implemented in full, without delay..."

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and security considerations – noted that fighting continued in areas of Donetsk region including Shyrokyne and, to a lesser extent, in a number of other locations. Baseline data enabling the SMM to monitor and verify withdrawal of heavy weapons had still not been provided.

NEW YORK, 24 February – Co-operation between the OSCE and the UN, the situation in and around Ukraine and the OSCE role in dealing with the crisis were discussed during a meeting between OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon...