Ukraine grossly violating Geneva deal: Russia FM
Iran Press TV
Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:11PM GMT
Russia has accused Ukraine of violating the Geneva deal signed recently in an attempt to ease tensions in the crisis-hit Eastern European country.
"The Geneva accord is not only not being fulfilled, but steps are being taken, primarily by those who seized power in Kiev, that are grossly breaching the agreements reached in Geneva,' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference in the capital, Moscow, on Monday.
On April 17, Kiev's interim government together with the United States, Russia and the European Union reached an agreement in the Swiss city of Geneva, calling for all sides to 'de-escalate' the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine, where anti-Kiev protesters have seized buildings in several towns and cities.
However, hours after the signing of the accord, US President Barack Obama warned that Washington is prepared to take further action against Russia in case of a possible failure in the deal concerning the Ukrainian crisis.
Lavrov also criticized Washington for threatening Moscow with more sanctions and urged European leaders to take individual decisions rather than succumbing to US pressure over the current turmoil in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the top Russian diplomat blamed the new Ukrainian government for dragging on constitutional reforms needed to de-escalate tensions in the former Soviet state.
The West and Russia remain divided over eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian protesters keep occupying key government buildings.
The demonstrators have refused to recognize the recent Geneva accord, renewing their calls for a referendum. Several people have been killed in violence there.
Tensions between the Western powers and Moscow heightened after Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and formally applied to become part of the Russian Federation following a referendum on March 16.
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