Foreign ministers of the United States, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union agreed in a meeting in Geneva last week that they will endeavor to resolve the crisis in Ukraine through diplomatic efforts.

The agreement said among other things that all sides must refrain from violence, that all "illegal armed groups" in eastern Ukraine must be immediately disarmed and that all "illegally seized buildings" in eastern Ukraine must be immediately returned to Ukrainian authorities.

All the parties to the agreement should make serious efforts so that it will be faithfully implemented, including beefing up the manpower of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is entrusted to help implement the "de-escalation measures" that the accord calls for.