Russia expects the Ukrainian authorities to provide a full-scale rather than temporary ceasefire in southeastern regions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. That was the Russian foreign minister's comment on the unilateral ceasefire initiative of Poroshenko. Martial law in eastern Ukraine will give a free hand to Ukrainian law enforcers rather than help de-escalate tensions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov opined.
"I do not see how this may de-escalate tensions. On the contrary, martial law will obviously be put into place for giving a free hand to the authorities, so that they can rely on force, military force, and suppress protesters in the southeast," Lavrov said at a press conference after negotiations with his Azeri counterpart.
"If this initiative aims at comprehensive ceasefire, in which the opposition, militia fighting the authorities, will be able to exhibit a good will and start negotiations, to which the authorities will invite representatives of the southeast, then I think it could be the step promised by Ukrainian President Petr Poroshenko and which is actually expected by all of us," he told a press conference in Baku, Interfax reports.
Russian FM Lavrov warns against ethnic cleansing in southeastern Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he hopes the new Ukrainian leadership will not support those harboring scenarios of ethnic cleansing in the southeastern part of the country.
"Instead of the promised ceasefire - which we heard from President Poroshenko - some announcements have been heard from the security agencies in Kiev that a military truce would be declared so that the separatists, as they call them, could leave the Ukrainian territory," Lavrov told journalists on Tuesday.
"This is no longer national dialogue, and this is no longer negotiations with all regions involved but is in fact ethnic cleansing," Lavrov said.
"I do hope that Poroshenko won't take his cue from those who are harboring such scenarios," he said.
The death of Russian TV journalist Igor Kornelyuk in Ukraine is "yet another serious signal to all those who are seeking a military victory in the southeast and this territory's mopping-up," he said.
The incident should also send yet another "powerful signal to Kiev's Western patrons to stop unreserved support for these violent actions and make the Kiev authorities deliver on what President Poroshenko promised, that is, start a truly nationwide dialogue on this country's future with all regions involved," he said.
Russia is working on the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution in support for the OSCE roadmap for settling the Ukraine crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"We will be even more insistent in seeking support for the OSCE roadmap, which has been compiled by the Swiss presidency and which is based on the Geneva statement agreed upon between Russia, the US, and the European Union with Ukraine's participation. And we are seeking the adoption of a relevant resolution at the UN Security Council now," Lavrov told Russian journalists in Baku on Tuesday, Interfax reports.
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