Kyiv's cancelling truce undermines important diplomatic move of German, Russia, Ukrainian, French leaders - Moscow
MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax) - Kyiv's cancelling truce and sudden activation of battle actions have undermined an important diplomatic move developed upon the joint order of leaders of Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France but the efforts to return the situation to negotiating track should be continued, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Ukraine refused at the last moment releasing the declaration of the Russian, German, French and Ukrainian foreign ministers supporting Russia's proposals on joint control, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the telephone conversation held by the four foreign ministers on June 30.
Kyiv said it was "ready to go for this only after unconditional bilateral ceasefire is set."
"This step of Kyiv is very regrettable, not to mention that the four-party declaration urged namely to affect the parties in the interest of reaching the relevant agreement in the contact group as quickly as possible. Besides, Ukraine demanded categorically that the contact group be called in Russia, not in Donetsk, where previous meetings took place," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Taking into account the information received on the participants on other different-format contacts Ukraine had on June 30, it appears that the Kyiv's change of position, including declaring overnight into July 1, 2014 that the truce regime will not be extended, occurred not without outside pressure despite the stance of leading EU members," the document said.
"We are urging yet again to stop using Ukraine as a loose coin in geopolitical games and to refuse imposing the criminal line for forceful suppression of protests. Everyone should follow firstly the task of ending the bloodshed immediately, ensuring stable ceasefire and starting specific and open talks on future of the Ukrainian state taking into account interests of all its citizens and regions," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"We are convinced that the efforts to return the situation into negotiation track should be continued, including urgent meeting of the contact group. We will assist this in every way. If common sense prevails and truce resumes, we are ready to start together with partners implementing agreements stipulated in the declaration, which was accorded but did not come into effect due to Kyiv's position," the statement said.
