Ban Ki-moon hopes for successful Minsk talks on Ukraine

       Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon praised “intensive diplomatic efforts” to overcome the crisis in Ukraine and expressed hope for successful talks on Ukraine scheduled for 11 February in Minsk, BelTA learnt from the UN News Center. Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon praised the intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a solid and long-term ceasefire in the east of Ukraine and the implementation of the Minsk agreements, the UN spokesperson told a briefing in New York. Ban Ki-moon expressed hope that the high-level “Normandy format” meeting as well as the meeting of the trilateral contact group would help the parties concerned confirm their obligations to stop this devastating conflict on the basis of respect to sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.