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<p>The security situation in eastern Ukraine remains fragile, although a ceasefire
agreed in September continues largely to hold following an order issued by the Ukrainian
Armed Forces’ chief-of-staff on 25 November not to return fire unless in self-defence.
Progress on the Minsk peace process was made at a Normandy-format Foreign Ministers’
meeting on 6 November, including agreements on the withdrawal of heavy weapons and
de-mining. However these now need to be fully implemented alongside the ceasefire
being fully respected.</p><p>A report published by the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights on 9 December reported that the total death toll
since mid-April 2014 is at least 9,098, with another 20,732 injured. The report also
reveals that serious human rights abuses against people in the separatist-held areas
continue, including killings, torture, ill-treatment, illegal detention and forced
labour, lack of freedom of movement, assembly and expression. An estimated 2.9 million
people living in the conflict area continue to face difficulties in exercising their
economic and social rights, in particular access to quality medical care. The already
dire humanitarian situation is exacerbated by the lack of access to these areas by
international humanitarian organisations. Sustained and unimpeded access by humanitarian
organisations to these areas is vital.</p><p>I expressed my concern at the situation
in Ukraine in a statement at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel on 3 December,
where I called on the Russian Federation to withdraw their weapons and personnel,
and use their considerable influence over the separatist leadership in order to bring
an end to the crisis. I also raised the Government's concerns about the situation
in Eastern Ukraine with Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Titov in Moscow on 22
December.</p>
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