Photo: AP
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday once again called on Russia to fulfill Minsk agreement on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.
« Now is a critical time for both sides: Russia and the separatists must adhere to the agreements Minsk ” – Kerry said on Wednesday before the summit of foreign ministers of NATO countries in Antalya, reports AFP.
Speaking at the summit, US Secretary of State has once again raised the issue of Russia imposed on US sanctions and reminded Washington’s position: “We do not want sanctions against Russia, but they are necessary to ensure peace and a cease-fire in the Ukraine “, – said Kerry.
About the need to maintain sanctions and the NATO chief said Jens Stoltenberg. “We continue to support sanctions against Russia for its actions in respect of Ukraine, but at the same time, we continue to keep the window open a political dialogue”, – RIA Novosti quoted Stoltenberg. NATO chief also called on Moscow to stop supporting militias in the east of Ukraine and to withdraw from Donbass. Moscow has repeatedly said that no Russian military personnel or weapons in the Donbass can not be.
On the eve of a meeting in Sochi Kerry with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov – the first time since the conflict began in Ukraine. The only bilateral meeting between Kerry and Putin took place in the Kremlin May 7, 2013. At the end of four hours of talks Tuesday, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that the meeting did not break, but showed “signs of understanding” between the two countries. According to him, Russia considers the contact took place “as a very useful, necessary and positive».
While demanding from Moscow to adhere to the agreements Minsk, on the eve of US Secretary of State Kerry spoke about the responsibility of Kiev, whose actions may lead to the breakdown of the truce.
Kiev and Donetsk and Lugansk self-proclaimed People’s Republic accuse each other of violating the Minsk Agreement and disrupting the peace process. The visit of US Secretary of State in Sochi was preceded by another round of talks in Minsk, where the parties have failed to agree on the establishment of working groups. They have to deal with as a matter of the ceasefire and a political settlement. But on Monday, the president of Poroshenko unexpectedly announced plans to take control of the airport in Donetsk, which is controlled by militias. The Kremlin called it a violation of the agreements Minsk.
Speaking at a press conference after his meeting with Putin, Kerry also warned the Ukrainian authorities of trying to fight off the airport in Donetsk militia. US Secretary of State stressed that Washington would be very concerned about the effect of such action in Kiev. If Poroshenko in favor of the beginning of military operations, the United States would offer him first to think about it, he added.
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