Poroshenko urges immediate Russian implementation of ceasefire

BRUSSELS, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stressed during his visit to Brussels on Thursday that Russia needs to abide by the Minsk agreements and to immediately implement the ceasefire in east Ukraine.

"Minsk---III cannot happen. We have full range of Minsk agreements and it is necessary to fulfill them. Today's meetings were among other things devoted to the fact that Russia doesn't respect its own commitments," Poroshenko said after a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Ukraine Today reported.

Since the signing of the "Minsk II" agreements in February, the ceasefire has been violated multiple times.

Poroshenko also said that it was not necessary to wait until September 1 before respecting the existing truce.

"We do not know... [if] wait [ing] until September 1 will cost us. What is the reason for us to wait a week for the ceasefire?", asked Poroshenko.

In recent weeks, the EU has called for cessation of hostilities between pro-Russian separatists and Kiev forces in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin and Kiev traded assertions that the other had been responsible for the rise in violence.

At least 6,800 people have been killed since fighting began in the Donetsk and neighboring Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine, according to United Nations estimates. Poroshenko also slammed upcoming elections in these areas.

"With armed people on the street, without solving the question of security, without foreign observers, these elections are not acceptable because they do not meet international standards," Poroshenko said.

"The support of the of the EU is essential for us," underscored Poroshenko. "War and Russian aggression against Ukraine are not the reasons for avoiding reforms. As President, I firmly stand on the position of effective continuation of reforms."