Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine reports that the situation on the ground in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of eastern Ukraine remains tense. A ceasefire agreed in Minsk on 12 February has led to a general reduction in fighting, and some withdrawal of heavy weapons. But some fighting has continued in Shyrokyne and Donetsk Airport, and heavy weapons continue to be used. The OSCE needs to be given full and unhindered access to all areas of the crisis zone so they can verify and monitor the heavy weapons withdrawal.

The heavy fighting around Maryinka, near Donetsk, on 3 June constituted the most serious violation of the ceasefire under the Minsk agreements since February. The OSCE’s report of 3 June presented a clear picture of large amounts of heavy weapons from Donetsk moving westwards towards Maryinka, indicating this was a provocation by the separatists.