Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and backing of the separatists and their self-proclaimed authorities in eastern Ukraine mean that Russia's role in ending the war in Ukraine is crucial. The Minsk agreements, which aim to bring to an end the conflict in the East of Ukraine, were agreed during meetings including President Vladimir Putin. They were signed by the Russian Ambassador to Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov. The measures depend to a large part on the Russia-backed separatists, including the need for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of all heavy weaponry, full monitoring access for the OSCE, and the full restoration of control of the state border to the Ukrainian government.