WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement regarding a ceasefire deal that leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany agreed to after hours of talks in Minsk, Belarus:

The security, sovereignty, and prosperity of Ukraine are a top priority for the United States, so news of this ceasefire agreement gives me a small degree of hope. A ceasefire is the best way to prevent violence from spiraling further out of control, and to begin the work of stabilizing the Ukrainian economy. I congratulate Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande in particular for their efforts to reach this new accord.

However, the real test will be whether the agreement is respected on the ground. At every step during this crisis, Russia has said one thing and done another. They agree to proceed in one direction, and then they promptly move in another. Connecticut’s committed Ukrainian-American community should know that the United States will carefully monitor the implementation of this agreement, and as always, we will continue to work to ensure that the people of Ukraine receive desperately needed international support.