Kyiv, January 20, 2015. Ukraine works hard toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Donbas. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany will meet again to discuss the implementation of the Minsk Protocol on January 21. Pavlo Klimkin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, told about this during the press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “For Ukraine, the number one priority remains the implementation of agreements reached in Minsk. This is a comprehensive peace plan that involves withdrawal of heavy artillery on both sides, access for the humanitarian aid and release of hostages; it is not a “menu in a restaurant” where you can cherrypick particular points,” Mr. Klimkin said.
Until the Minsk Protocol is not fully implemented, the European Union will not lift economic sanctions against Russia. Moreover, Ukraine will continue to demand financial compensation for the annexation of Crimea and the ongoing war in Donbas.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister explained why there was no meeting of representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the OSCE and of the self-declared “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic” on January 16. According to Klimkin, leaders of the self-declared pro-Russia republics have refused to come to Minsk. Ukraine, on the other hand, puts all its efforts to continue negotiations.
Mr. Klimkin also announced that the international community should recognize illegal groups called “DPR” and “LPR” as terrorist organizations. “It became clear that these pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine are terrorists after the MH17 crash. The recent tragedy near Volnovakha only confirms this,” the Foreign Minister said.
Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk is going to conduct a round of consultations with Russian representatives regarding the latter’s compliance with the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. Pavlo Klimkin explained that these consultations are essential before Ukraine will file an official lawsuit to international courts.
While answering questions of the media about Ukraine’s role in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Pavlo Klimkin said that the participation of Ukraine there is limited to treaties concluded back in the 1990s. “Ukrainian politicians of the highest echelon do not take part in this club of post-Soviet states. The very term “post-Soviet space” has ceased to exist for us,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister concluded.