Kyiv, 8 March 2014 – EU is prepared to take further measures if there is no positive actions to deescalate the conflict in Crimea on the part of Russian Federation, said Simon Smith, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Great Britain to Ukraine, during a press briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
‘There is still an opportunity to commit to diplomatic actions and resolve the conflict through a dialogue. We are looking for immediate actions that would deescalate the situation in Crimea and bring it back into the legal framework. EU has clearly stated that Russia will face the further serious consequences and this is the matter of days, not weeks’, said Simon Smith.
Mr. Smith noted that the referendum in Crimea is full of legal unsoundness and it is bringing further destabilization of the situation.
The Ambassador has ensured that Ukrainian issues are right on the top of British government political agenda. ‘EU is ready to give not just political, but also financial, technical and budgetary support to Ukraine.’
‘This is a chance for Ukraine to build a strong successful unified country and we will continue to pitch in our help’, Mr. Smith added.
Simon Smith – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Great Britain to Ukraine. From 2007 to 2012 Smith served as Ambassador to Austria, based in Vienna, and as the UK’s representative to many UN and international organisations in Vienna, including as the UK’s Governor on the Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency. His transfer to Kiev as Ambassador to Ukraine was announced on 13 October 2011 and he took up the appointment in September 2012
