Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Ukraine, bilaterally and through the European Union, since the latest breakdown of the Minsk peace agreement; and what was the outcome of any discussions.

Ministers and officials are regularly in contact with the Ukrainian authorities to discuss the situation on the ground and the diplomatic process. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), met President Poroshenko and Foreign Minister Klimkin on 27 January 2015. We support diplomatic efforts that aim to bring about a peaceful resolution of the crisis in eastern Ukraine, such as those led by Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande, which we hope will lead to constructive dialogue between all parties. Ukraine is also regularly discussed in the EU in the Foreign Affairs Council and at the European Council, most recently at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 9 February where new sanctions against Russians and Ukrainian separatists were adopted with implementation delayed pending the outcome of further peace talks.