The **Minsk agreements** are a set of international agreements aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine, specifically in the Donbas region, which began in 2014. The conflict erupted after Russia's annexation of Crimea and the subsequent pro-Russian separatist uprising in Donetsk and Luhansk. The agreements were brokered by the **Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)** and involved Ukraine, Russia, and the separatist leaders. There are two main Minsk agreements: 1. **Minsk Protocol (September 2014)**: This was the first agreement, signed on September 5, 2014, following talks in Minsk, Belarus. It included provisions for an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons, and decentralization of power in Ukraine to grant more autonomy to the Donbas region. 2. **Minsk II (February 2015)**: This agreement was signed on February 12, 2015, after the collapse of the first ceasefire. It expanded on the original protocol and included 13 points, such as: - A full ceasefire. - Withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front lines. - Release of prisoners. - Constitutional reforms in Ukraine to grant self-governance to Donbas. - Restoration of Ukrainian control over its border with Russia (to be implemented after political reforms). ### Who is deemed to have breached the agreement? Both sides—Ukraine and the Russian-backed separatists—have been accused of violating the agreements. However, the broader international community, including the European Union and the United States, has largely blamed **Russia** for failing to uphold its commitments. Key points of contention include: - **Russia's role**: While Russia denies direct involvement in the conflict, it has been accused of providing military support, weapons, and troops to the separatists. This violates the spirit of the agreements, which called for the withdrawal of foreign forces. - **Separatist actions**: The separatists have been accused of failing to implement the ceasefire and continuing hostilities. - **Ukraine's delays**: Ukraine has been criticized for slow progress on political reforms, such as granting autonomy to Donbas, which was a key part of the agreement. ### Current status: The Minsk agreements have largely been considered a failure, as the conflict in Donbas continued despite the ceasefire attempts. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 effectively rendered the agreements obsolete, as the situation escalated far beyond the scope of the original agreements. If you’d like more details about specific aspects of the Minsk agreements or the conflict, feel free to ask! `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`