Russia ready for consultations with Kiev on border issues - Russian Foreign Ministry
27 May 2014, 18:42 -- Moscow is ready for consultations with Kiev on state border issues, as was previously requested by Ukraine, but would like to understand first what problems they suggest discussing, a Russian deputy foreign minister Grigory Karasin said Tuesday. 'Such a meeting is possible in principle. [But] it is important to understand what the Ukrainian authorities mean by requesting such consultations. If we get clarifications on this, such a meeting will be possible,' Karasin said.
'There have been no clarifications so far. Kiev has earlier sent a diplomatic note to Moscow requesting joint measures to be taken on the border between the two states. We have taken this note seriously. Currently our corresponding agencies are trying to understand what this means, as the Ukrainian side provided us with no clarifications on this issue,' Karasin stressed adding that it was also essential to find out what particular specific situations on the border were the subject of negotiations.
Earlier on Tuesday Ukraine's Border Guard Service reported that it had detained a number of vehicles filled with AK-47 assault rifles and explosives, which had allegedly attempted to illegally cross the Ukrainian border from Russia. Ukraine's Border Guard Service said it had notified Russia about the incident and called for immediate measures and the prevention of illegal border crossing.
The Russian side later denied the reports saying that it could not confirm the fact of illegal border crossing by Russian vehicles. This is not the first time when similar cases were reported by the Ukrainian authorities.
On May 17 the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sent a diplomatic note to Russia in the wake of significant deterioration of the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border, triggered in particular by cross-border criminal activities.
Putin demands Ukrainian army to immediately halt massive punitive operation in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Tuesday for an immediate halt to Ukraine's military operation against people in the east of the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin has talked on the telephone with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, the Kremlin press office said in a statement.
'The two countries' leaders have exchanged opinions on the situation in Ukraine in the context of the results of the presidential elections held on May 25, 2014,' the document said.
Mutual condolences have been offered due to the tragic death of Italian reporter Andrea Rochelli and Russian citizen Andrei Mironov, who accompanied him, the press office said.
'Putin has emphasized the necessity of immediately stopping the tactical punitive operation in southeastern regions and introducing peaceful dialogue between Kiev and representatives of the regions,' the statement said.
Putin and Renzi have given a high assessment to the current level and prospects of Russian-Italian cooperation, the Kremlin said. 'Certain issues of cooperation in different spheres, first in the energy sector, have been discussed,' the statement said.
Kiev authorities plan to continue east Ukraine operation
The Kiev authorities have announced that the military operation in the east of Ukraine will continue until all 'self-defense units' active there are neutralized, Ukrainian acting first deputy prime minister Vitaliy Yarema told reporters on Tuesday.
The launch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' operation to retake control of parts of eastern Ukraine was declared in the first half of April.
The 'active phase' of the operation in eastern Ukraine was suspended for the period of the country's presidential elections on May 25, but it has already been resumed, Yarema said.
'You were able to see its results yesterday,' he said.
Yarema, however, declined to say exactly for how long this operation would continue.When commenting on the situation surrounding the Donetsk airport, Yarema said that investigators were currently working at the site and counting the casualties.
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