World Bulletin / News Desk

The EU will continue to work with all partners to find a way to solve the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the bloc's foreign policy chief said on Monday.

Speaking before an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Federica Mogherini said Europe still did not recognize the “illegal annexation” of Crimea by Russia and called for the implementation of the 2014 Minsk agreement.

A ceasefire was essential and “bringing calm to the east of Ukraine is a must,” she added.

Upon a question whether there was a link between what is currently happening in Ukraine and the new U.S. administration, Mogherini refused to speculate.

She also said EU foreign ministers would discuss Ukraine, Libya, Egypt and the Middle East peace process.

Ukraine has been wracked by conflict since March 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea after an illegal independence vote.

This had followed violent anti-government protests which led to the overthrow of the then-President Victor Yanukovich.

The UN General Assembly voted to proclaim the Russian annexation illegal.

Along with many UN countries, the U.S., the EU and Turkey also do not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russia separatists has seen around 9,750 people killed, according to the UN.