During 2018, fighting in the east of Ukraine will continue, and Minsk agreements will not be implemented.

This was stated by Director of the Office of Military Intelligence of the US Department of Defense Lieutenant-General Vincent Stewart, writes "Ukrinform".

"The conflict in the east of Ukraine between the separatists supported by Russia and the Ukrainian government is likely to continue over the next year, while hopes for full implementation of the Minsk agreements are being overshadowed," he said in a report to the Senate Committee on Armed Services.

According to him, Ukraine also does not intend to fulfill the political points of the Minsk agreement until the Russian Federation stops shelling the Ukrainian military.

"Violence along the contact line is likely to remain limited to the level of small battles, although Russia remains ready to escalate the conflict," explained the chief of intelligence of the Pentagon.

He stressed that Russia has significantly strengthened the modernization of military capabilities.

As reported by the "Observer", Stewart also said that Putin is desperate to break out of the "encirclement".

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