NATO says Ukraine escalation runs counter to spirit of Minsk

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Minsk agreement to end fighting in eastern Ukraine but said an escalation of the conflict on Thursday ran counter to the spirit of the accord.

"The agreement in Minsk is a welcome step towards what I hope will be a durable, and peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine and towards restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," NATO quoted Stoltenberg as telling Norwegian news agency NTB.