“The recognition of the so-called ‘people’s republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk by the Russian Federation is in violation of international law and represents a unilateral breach of the Minsk agreements – which remain the only basis for a settlement of the conflict in Donbas,” reads a press release issued on the Council of Europe’s web site. “The Council of Europe affirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.”

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Tiny Kox, was quoted as saying that he is joining the Secretary General Pejcinovic-Buric’s statement on the breach of international law and the Minsk agreements.

“Together with the Secretary General, I call on the Russian Federation to reverse this decision and to abstain from further aggravating the situation,” Kox said. “With the Secretary General, I insistently call on our member states to solve their disagreement through dialogue based on respect for the principles enshrined in the Statute of the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Kox added he will propose to the Assembly to address the issue as a matter of urgency, including at the Standing Committee in Berlin on March 11.