Kyiv expects real evidences of Russian troops withdrawal from borders, MFA

Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has criticized the discussion between the presidents of Russian and Switzerland on the situation in Ukraine without the participation of the Ukrainian party.

Despite a front of the "good faith" gesture, the content and rhetoric that were voiced at the Kremlin have nothing in common with true search of a settlement. Discussion of a peaceful settlement of the situation in Ukraine, but without Ukraine is senseless and unacceptable. We need real action instead of the statements, the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine reports.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry suggests first of all Russia should implement obligations assumed under Geneva accords and distance itself from terrorist activities in the east of Ukraine, publicly call upon separatist units to lay down the arms and cease subversive actions.

Withdrawal of Russian armed forces from Ukrainian borders should be genuinely confirmed, MFA emphasized.

Foreign Ministry has added that any so-called "terrorist referendums" in the east of Ukraine are illegal by definition, thus, an appeal to «postpone» them is just a mockery.

"Substitution of notions should be terminated. There is no civil war in Ukraine. The essence of the conflict is aggression of the Russian Federation against our country, occupation of Crimea and impudent interference in internal affairs, accompanied by support for terrorist actions against Ukrainian citizens and territorial integrity of the state", – MFA says.

It is noticed in the statement that a full-scale national dialogue with all political actors, regional representatives and the civil society is an absolute priority of the Government of Ukraine, however the dialogue with terrorists is impermissible.

Ukraine welcomes and supports the important role of the OSCE in international efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation. Particularly valuable will be those efforts of the Organization that will facilitate continuation of a nationwide dialogue in Ukraine, implementation of a mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission and engagement of international observers to monitor the elections of the President of Ukraine on May 25, 2014. The statements made on May 7 in Moscow demonstrate the first results of consolidated international pressure on the Kremlin in response to the aggression committed against Ukraine, the statement says.