Ukraine is able to protect Russian-speaking citizens on its own - acting foreign minister
KYIV. April 25 (Interfax) - Ukraine's acting Foreign Minster Andriy Deshchytsia has called on Russia to pull back its troops from the border with Ukraine, at the same time seeking to reassure Moscow that the Ukrainian authorities are able to protect the country's Russian-speaking population on their own.
Deshchytsia was speaking at an Eastern Partnership summit in Prague.
"The acting minister reiterated the unacceptability of the Russian Federation interfering in the internal affairs of our state and called [on Russia] to immediately pull back its troops from the border with Ukraine. Deshchytsia emphasized that the government of Ukraine has all the necessary instruments to protect the interests of Russian-speaking citizens on the territory of Ukraine without any outside "help", Deshchytsia was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service.
Ukraine's choice in favor of integration with Europe remains unchanged, he said, reaffirming the importance of the recently signed political section of Ukraine's Association Agreement with the European Union.
Ukraine is interested in signing the document's economic part, which allows the establishment of a deep and comprehensive free trade area between Ukraine and the EU, as soon as possible, he said.
Deshchytsia met with Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti on the sidelines of the Prague summit to discuss international security, the ongoing events in southeastern Ukraine and the situation in Transdniestria, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
"Deshchytsia and Timofti agreed to the need to coordinate the two countries' efforts to resist pressure on the part of the Russian Federation, including in the Euro-integration context," it said.
The sides also pledged to continue their constructive dialogue.
