Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regarding the intentions expressed by the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Switzerland, which chairs the OSCE, to deescalate the situation in Ukraine, May 7, 2014
Today the presidents of the Russian Federation and Switzerland, which chairs the OSCE, voiced intentions to deescalate the situation in Ukraine.
Despite the appearance of “good faith” gestures, the content and rhetoric emanating from the Kremlin have nothing in common with any real attempts to seek a solution.
The discussion of a peaceful settlement of the situation in Ukraine without the participation of Ukraine is meaningless and unacceptable.
Instead of pronouncements, real actions are required.
Russia should, first of all, fulfill its Geneva obligations and distance itself from the terrorist activity in the east of Ukraine. It should publicly call on the separatist groups to lay down their arms and put an end to the destabilizing actions of subversive groups.
The withdrawal of Russian military troops from Ukrainian borders must have real confirmation.
Any “terrorist referendum” in the east of our country is illegal by definition. Therefore, calls for “postponement” are in no way an expression of good will but the usual farce. Russia has already implemented this scenario in Crimea.
It is time to put an end to false concepts. There is no civil war in Ukraine. The essence of the conflict consists in the aggression of the Russian Federation against our country, the occupation of Crimea, and the brazen interference in our internal affairs that is accompanied by support of terrorist actions against the citizens of Ukraine and the integrity of our country.
The absolute priority of the Government of Ukraine is a full-scale national dialogue with the participation of political parties, the representatives of the regions, and the public. For such a dialogue to take place, the necessary conditions for peace and security must be established. But dialogue is impossible and unthinkable with terrorists. The protection of human life and the defeat of terrorism, which undermines any possibility for dialogue, is the very purpose of the anti-terrorist operation taking place in certain areas in the east of our country. Therefore, joint international actions to contain and neutralize any sources of terrorism are a fundamentally critical step.
Ukraine welcomes and supports the important role of the OSCE in the international efforts designed to deescalate the situation. Of particular value will be the Organization’s efforts to promote the continuation of the national dialogue in Ukraine, to fulfill the mandate of the OSCE special monitoring mission, and to provide international monitors for the elections for the President of Ukraine, May 25, 2014.
The statements made on May 7 in Moscow are evidence of the initial results of the consolidated international pressure on the Kremlin in response to the aggression committed against Ukraine.
The position of our country always remains open to real dialogue in bilateral and multilateral formats designed to overcome peacefully the threats against Ukraine and our people.
Original text: http://mfa.gov.ua/ua/press-center/comments/1251-zajava-mzs-ukrajini-z-privodu-vislovlenih-prezidentami-rosijsykoji-federaciji-i-shvejcariji-golovujuchoji-v-obse-namiriv-dejeskalaciji-situaciji-v-ukrajini
Translated by Anna Mostovych
