KIEV, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas remains a priority for Ukraine, the commander of the Ukrainian government's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Serhiy Nayev said on Monday.
"The politically-diplomatic way of de-occupation of Donbas is now a priority," Nayev said in an interview to a local online media outlet "Obozrevatel."
He emphasized that the Ukrainian government forces are adhering to the Minsk agreements.
The conflict in Donbas started in April 2014, when the Ukrainian government launched the "anti-terror" operation (ATO) against armed groups, who seized cities and towns in eastern Donbas region and declared independence from Kiev.
In late April, the government replaced the ATO, which was ruled by the State Security Service, with the army-led JFO in accordance with the law on Donbas re-integration.
The controversial law on Donbas re-integration, which defines areas controlled by rebels in eastern Ukraine as "temporarily occupied territories," came into force on Feb. 24.
The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that the legislation could lead to an escalation of the confrontation in Donbas.
The Minsk agreements, reached in September 2014 and February 2015 respectively, are designed to peacefully end the conflict. They envisage a ceasefire, a withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the contact line, a prisoner exchange and local elections, among other measures.
