NATO criticizes the Ukrainian government for the first time

New, sharper tones appeared in NATO's demand for Ukraine to adhere to the Minsk agreements. It was also noted that the unauthorized blockade of Crimea with the support of the right-wing forces began without obstacles from the Kiev government.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Ukraine to implement a peace plan for the military zone of Donbass. "It is imperative that Ukraine continues to implement all aspects of the Minsk agreements," he said in Kiev on Tuesday. "There is no other solution to the conflict." Stoltenberg took part in a meeting of the Security Council of Ukraine as the head of NATO. He then signed an agreement on the NATO representation in Kiev.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has confirmed plans for a referendum on possible NATO membership in the former Soviet republic. “De jure, we are not a NATO member, but de facto we are more than just partners,” Poroshenko stressed.

Since early September, a ceasefire has been prudently implemented in eastern Ukraine. The OSCE is concerned that the civilian population of Donbass will not be adequately protected from the cold in winter, as it is unable to do so on its own. The water supply system was destroyed in almost the entire region, many areas were mined. The OSCE called on Ukraine a few days ago to withdraw its army so that residents can, at least on their own, make repairs in rebel-held areas, according to European news portals.

There are still disagreements, however, progress has been made with regard to the required withdrawal of weapons from the front, as well as local elections in accordance with Ukrainian law in the separatist regions. The troubled regions showed a willingness to compromise, and said it might be possible to postpone their planned elections until the end of February. The Contact Group met in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Tuesday, but no significant progress was made on these issues.

Recently, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was unusually convinced that the war in Ukraine could be contained at this time. The Americans and Russians seem to have agreed primarily to cooperate in Syria. Neither of the two great powers can achieve much in Ukraine. EU taxpayers took over the funding, as a result of which the conflict between the great powers lowered the degree. But Chancellor Angela Merkel believes that Germany's mediation role in the conflict in Ukraine is unnecessarily complex.

The situation in the country is now heating up in Western Ukraine. In addition, the regional power of the far right is likely to escalate the conflict with Russia again by blocking roads without government permission in Kiev, in accordance with the law.