Kiev upsets OSCE efforts to launch inclusive dialogue in Ukraine - Russia Foreign Ministry
8 May 2014, 19:09 -- Kiev has essentially jeopardized the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to launch an inclusive dialogue in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday, May 8. 'The reaction to the results of the Moscow meeting between the presidents of Russia and Switzerland that came from the Kiev authorities, who have essentially jeopardized the OSCE efforts to launch an inclusive dialogue, is deeply regrettable,' the ministry said.
In a telephone conversation with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that 'the Russian president's appeal yesterday to representatives of the south-eastern regions of Ukraine and supporters of federalization to postpone the referendum slated for May 11 creates favorable conditions for starting a substantive and equal dialogue between the Ukrainian sides on the basis of the roadmap proposed by the Swiss Presidency of the OSCE for settling the crisis in Ukraine,' Itar-Tass reports.
'Putting an immediate stop to the use of force, primarily of the regular army, and practical steps to disarm illegal armed groups are an obligatory condition,' the ministry said.
The two ministers continued to 'discuss the crisis in Ukraine and international efforts to reduce tensions in the country, primarily in the context of the May 7 talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Swiss President and Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Didier Burkhalter,' the ministry said.
Lavrov and Steinmeier also discussed the steps that need to be taken 'in order to prevent the frustration of the Swiss Presidency's initiative.'
Presidential elections in Ukraine to be pointless without nation-wide dialogue - Lavrov
The presidential elections in Ukraine, scheduled for May 25, will be meaningless without nation-wide dialogue aimed at constitutional reform, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Lavrov spoke on the telephone with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius on May 8 and the conversation was held on France's initiative, said Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement on its website.
'The situation in Ukraine was discussed. Lavrov has supported an immediate stop by Kiev of using armed forces against its own people and settling broad nation-wide dialogue aimed at fair constitutional reform taking into account interests of all political forces and regions. Otherwise, the presidential elections scheduled in Ukraine on May 25 will be pointless,' the document said, according to Interfax.
'The minister has also emphasized that Russia expects the slaughter in Odessa to be investigated in an unbiased and comprehensive way and those guilty to be punished seriously. On his side, Fabius welcomed the statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin made at the joint news conference with Swiss President, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairman-in-Office Didier Burkhalter, which, in his opinion, opens opportunities for the long-awaited tension de-escalation,' the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.
Irresponsible policy behind developments in Ukraine - Putin
Irresponsible policy is the main reason behind the situation in Ukraine, which has already claimed the lives of people, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. 'The example of our neighbor - brotherly Ukraine - illustrates that an irresponsible policy brings misfortune and losses,' the president said at an informal meeting in Moscow with the heads of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is concerned about what he sees as the revival of militant nationalism in Europe and points to the ongoing processes in Ukraine in connection with this. 'Militant nationalism that once led to the emergence of the Nazi ideology is again rearing its head in Europe. We won't dwell on each particular hotbed; we know where we face this danger,' Putin said at a meeting with the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan at the Kremlin on Thursday.
'The example of Ukraine vividly shows that such an irresponsible policy leads to a lot of trouble and losses,' Putin said. 'Hundreds of thousands of people are deprived of the chance to live a peaceful and unharmed life,' he said.
Russia determined to honor agreements on Ukraine reached at meeting with OSCE chairperson - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed that Russia is not indifferent to Ukraine's fate and is willing to observe agreements reached during the OSCE chairperson-in-office's visit to Moscow.
'Certainly, we can't be indifferent to what is going on in Ukraine,' Putin said at a meeting with the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in the Kremlin on Thursday.
Putin noted that he had 'a useful conversation' with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter in Moscow on Wednesday.
'We are determined to act within the framework of these agreements,' Putin said.
'Concrete steps have been planned to intensify the OSCE's efforts toward de-escalating tensions in Ukraine,' he said.
These steps should be taken 'primarily through arranging a direct and equitable dialogue between the current Kiev authorities and representatives of the southeastern regions of the country,' Putin said.
Putin said he planned to informally exchange opinions on the Ukraine crisis and on the development of integration processes in Eurasia with his CIS counterparts.
'As for the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization], we will talk about what we should do together to unconditionally ensure our people's security,' he said.
Russian strategic offensive, defensive forces in high readiness - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised a command training session of the Russian Armed Forces he attended earlier on Thursday.
'We have all had a chance to see for ourselves the high readiness and concerted action of our country's strategic offensive and defensive forces,' Putin said at a meeting with the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at the Kremlin on Thursday.
The four foreign heads of state also attended the session.
The Russian army, 'being a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia, is playing a substantial role in providing global regional security,' Putin said. 'The world still faces a lot of challenges and threats,' he said.
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