Explained | What is the Minsk Agreement?

The first Minsk Agreement was signed in September 2014 and the second agreement in March 2015. There were aimed at enabling a permanent peaceful solution to the geopolitical tension between Russia and Ukraine.

The ongoing geopolitical escalations between Russia and Ukraine bought back focus on the Minsk Agreement of 2014 and 2015. Signed after the Russian actions in Crimea in 2014, the agreement was aimed at ensuring a ceasefire and enabling prerequisites to work out a permanent peaceful solution between the neighbours.

The geopolitical tensions centred on the Ukrainian choice of opting for an Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU) or side with the Russian equivalent Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The AA aspired to “accelerate the deepening of political and economic relations” between Ukraine and the EU. Additionally, it was to enable gradual integration of Ukraine to the EU Internal Market via the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). The trade agreement would effectively eliminate most tariffs on trade in goods with Ukraine expected to be a part of the EU legislation.

As pointed out by the London-based policy research organisation Chatham House, the AA established a radically different model of governance at Russia’s doorstep. Many Russians consider Ukraine indistinguishable from themselves both culturally and historically. Further, the Kremlin worried about the EU’s expanding profile in the non-Baltic post-Soviet space. 

In 2013, then Ukrainian-President Viktor Yanukovich decided against signing the AA. This triggered pro-European ‘Euromaidan’ protests in Ukraine. Mr. Yanukovich was impeached in February 2014. 

The impeachment worried the Kremlin as it carried out the annexation of Crimea in March 2014.

Seeking an end to the war, the first Minsk Agreement was signed in Belarus in September 2014. Signatories to the agreement were Russia, Ukraine, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the pro-Russia leaders from Donetsk and Luhansk.

Chatham House informs the 12-point ceasefire agreement broadly called for an OSCE monitored ceasefire, exchange of prisoners, withdrawal of armed formations; military equipment, fighter and mercenaries from Ukraine and establishing an OSCE-monitored ‘security zone’ along the border. It also directed for an economic reconstruction programme for Donetsk and Luhansk.