PARIS, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Mac Ayrault on Wednesday hailed Ukraine and independence-seeking insurgents' accord to withdraw troops and heavy weapons in three hot spots, but said more works were still needed to fully implement Minsk peace deal.
"(The agreement) is therefore not an end, but the beginning of a process aimed at consolidating the fragile ceasefire which came into force on Sept. 1, 2016," Ayrault said in a statement.
The French top diplomat called on rival camps to fully implement the deal aimed at de-escalating violence by withdrawing troops and arms in three towns on the front line in eastern Ukraine.
Paris and Berlin would continue promoting a diplomatic alternative to end the Ukrainian crisis by pressing Kiev and Moscow to respect truce accord signed in early 2015 in Belarus capital, according to Ayrault.
Brokered by France and Germany, Minsk accord demanded a complete cease of hostilities, the withdrawal of heavy weapons, prisoner exchanges and the restoration of the Ukrainian government control over the state border.
However, sporadic violence violated the deal, putting at risk the region's stability.
