The Russian Federation is ready to solve the political crisis in Ukraine with the EU provided the terms of the agreement between Ukrainian opposition leaders and the government dated February 21 are fulfilled.
The agreement Ukrainian opposition leaders made with the “President” of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, on February 21 is not yet fulfilled. This is stated in the appeal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation about the situation in Ukraine.
“Armed protesters haven’t laid down their arms, haven’t freed the administrative buildings, have announced plans to ‘restore order’ in all regions of Ukraine. There have been threats, as highlighted in today’s appeal from President Viktor Yanukovych,” said the statement.
Russia is ready to cooperate with the countries of the EU in order to solve the political crisis only after the terms of the agreement are fulfilled. In order to do this, the interests of all Ukrainian people and partners of Ukraine, including Russia, should be considered as constitutional reform is conducted, taking into account all the regions and political forces.
Russian diplomats are pointing out that Viktor Yanukovych’s agreement regarding the creation of a new national unity government and a joint investigation of the violent actions at Maidan is not being fulfilled. “Instead, as it has been announced on Maidan, a ‘government of winners’ that includes representatives of the ‘nationalists-extremists’ is being created.”
Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is outraged by the appeals of the General Secretary of NATO regarding the possible membership of Ukraine in this organization, which isn’t a priority task but is still considered a possible one. Russia demands that the new government and the partners of Ukraine respect Ukraine’s non-aligned status.
It is to be recalled that Viktor Yankukovych signed the agreement with the opposition leaders, which was meant to fix the political crisis by creating a new national unity government, enacting constitutional reform, and holding early president elections in December 2014, on February 21. However, that same night Yanukovych fled in an unknown direction, and his location still has not been identified. Powers have been granted to representatives of the opposition, and the majority of Party of Regions members have disassociated themselves from the former President and the honorary leader of the party at the same time.
Translated by Mariya Shtangrat, edited by Robin Rohrback
