Ukraine and the European Union must work together in order to ensure the implementation of the Minsk agreements by the Russian Federation. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during a joint press briefing with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn in Brussels on Tuesday.

"We should join efforts to ensure Russia’s abiding by Minsk agreements. This is a very important issue. And this process is fully understood by the Ukrainian side", said Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister told that over the last 24 hours in Donbas there had been killed 7 Ukrainian soldiers. "The Russian Federation committed acts of military aggression, shelled [Ukrainian positions –ed.] and as a consequence 7 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 14 wounded. I wish we all opened our eyes and realized the situation we are facing," he said.

Volodymyr Groysman noted that during the meeting with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, in particular, they discussed the situation in the east of Ukraine.

"Security issues are among essential priorities of today", said the Prime Minister.

According to him, to talk about the elections in Donbas and the reintegration of the territory could only be possible after the militants, Russian troops, armament are withdrawn from the Ukrainian territory, there is deployed an OSCE police mission and security is provided.

The Head of Government reminded that in Ukraine there are enumerated 1.7 million internally displaced persons, "who were forced to flee the territory fearing the threat of military action by militants".