-
.
- Ελληνικά
The French president agreed on the need to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron, with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, during a telephone conversation.
The two men agreed to do everything to quickly achieve a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.
In this context, the foreign ministers of the two countries will meet in the coming days with this aim and will work towards holding a possible top-level conference with Russia, Ukraine and allies to establish a new security order in Europe, the French presidency added.
"Kiev's provocations are escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine."
Earlier, the Russian president had told Macron that the recent escalation was the result of actions by Kiev's forces, according to the Kremlin.
"The Russian president pointed out that provocations by Ukrainian forces are the reason for the escalation," the Kremlin said, adding that in their communication Putin expressed to Macron his "serious concern" about the escalation along the line of contact in eastern Ukraine.
"We are striving for peace," Kiev says
For his part, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky called for an immediate ceasefire in Donbass in an attempt to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
The Ukrainian president made this statement in a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, which lasted for half an hour, but no other information was leaked about what the two leaders discussed.
According to the French side, the discussion was described as "the last resort to avoid war in Ukraine.[BR] Zelensky's statement comes hours after Vladimir Putin called on Kiev to sit at the negotiating table with Donbass separatists in order to find a solution and stop the fighting.
"Diplomacy is still working"
Diplomacy is still working in the conflict with Russia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba had said for his part.
"Yes, we see what is happening on the front, we see what Russia is doing, but diplomacy is still working," he said during a briefing televised by the Ukraina 24 network.
Kiev will "do everything to ensure that Russia remains on the diplomatic track" but is also preparing "for every eventuality," according to Kuleba.
"We are ready, we are stronger than we have been since 2014," he noted."
Kiev hopes Russia will join the negotiations proposed by Ukraine on security guarantees under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.Sidenote: in it the US, Russia, Ukraine and Britain agreed not to threaten or use force against Ukraine's territorial integrity or political independence. They also pledged not to use economic coercion against it for their own interests), but if it refuses the talks will still be held, Kuleba said.
"These security guarantees were produced in Ukraine in 1994 not by a group of countries, but by each country individually and these guarantees were merged into one document."
"These security guarantees were produced in Ukraine in 1994 not by a group of countries, but by each country individually and these guarantees were merged into one document."
"These guarantees were produced in Ukraine in 1994 not by a group of countries, but by each country individually and these guarantees were merged into one document. Therefore, Russia's refusal is not a reason not to hold consultations. But we hope that Russia will confirm its participation."
However, clear decisions should be taken after consultations with the guarantor countries of the agreement to ensure Ukrainian security, he stressed.
Kiev wants peace and does not plan bombings or provocations against Russia, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said.
"Ukraine is not planning and conducting offensive military operations or provocations, sabotage, bombing of Russian territory...We are not seeking war, we are striving for peace," Kuleba concluded, calling for an international investigation into the incident of Ukrainian missiles allegedly hitting Russian territory.
Source: in.gr
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
