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Europe opposes continued war in Ukraine

ZAMYATINA Tamara 
Some progress Russia's Foreign Ministry noted after Sunday talks in Berlin between the foreign ministers of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine has set a favorable trend

MOSCOW, August 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Some progress Russia's Foreign Ministry noted after Sunday talks in Berlin between the foreign ministers of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine seeking an end to military actions in east Ukraine has set a favorable trend, president of the Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Association Anatoly Adamishin, former Russian first deputy foreign minister, said in an interview with ITAR-TASS.

“Russia seeks actively to put an end to bloodshed in east Ukraine, an important factor in establishing peace. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed after the talks in Berlin that a ceasefire in Ukraine is the most topical task. Europe seems serious about ceasefire. If, in the quartet of negotiating countries, three countries call for giving up military actions, the matter may get off the ground,” the diplomat said.

“The point is whether Kiev wants to end the war, though it is not Ukrainian authorities but the Obama administration pushing Kiev to settle the conflict in south-east Ukraine by force which will finally answer this question," the expert said.

"The United States plays a decisive role in the current domestic Ukrainian crisis and Sergei Lavrov said intentionally that Moscow was sending signals to Washington to influence Kiev on attaining a ceasefire,” the expert added.

“At present, when a menacing threat  for the whole world is ripening in the Middle East, the US position supporting a military operation in east Ukraine may change. If Americans are reasonable people they should get a free hand to fight al-Qaeda and not seek to kindle a fire in Ukraine,” he noted.

“Words said by US ally British Prime Minister David Cameron can become a warning for Washington, saying that if Europeans do not take measures against al-Qaeda intensifying its activity in the Middle East, terrorists will kill Britons in the streets of London,” Adamishin said.

“It is not only in the interests of Russia, the European Union, but also in the interests of the US to seek reconciliation with Ukraine. As events of the last few months showed, Ukrainians cannot come to terms with each by themselves,” the expert said.

“The fact that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on the day quadripartite talks were held in Berlin that Ukraine officially asked the European Union and NATO for military aid was a PR move to build up the country’s position at talks. This does not mean at all that Kiev will receive military assistance. Kiev acts according to the Latin saying “Si vis pacem, para bellum” (If you want peace, prepare for war),” the expert added.

“Hopefully, theforeign ministers of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine intend in new rounds of talks to continue effort to stop hostilities, ensure control on the border, deliver humanitarian aid and create conditions to launch a political settlement process. The Berlin talks started this process,” the diplomat noted.

“A solution to deadlock similar to that in Ukraine is usually found when no conflicting party can attain military success. In my view, Donetsk and Luhansk cannot have a military victory over the Ukrainian army and national guard,” Adamishin said.

“Kiev has recently been ready for war up to the last Ukrainian. But now, President Poroshenko faced a threat coming from illegal armed units led by Governor of (central Ukraine) Dnipropetrovsk region Ihor Kolomoisky, (Ukrainian far-right movement) Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh and Ukrainian lawmaker Oleh Lyashko. They are several thousands of heavily armed cut-throats. With such “force in the rear” Poroshenko cannot feel confident and should be interested to look for peace,” the expert believes.

“After the Berlin talks, Sergei Lavrov noted that Kiev authorities did not control numerous armed formations, particularly Right Sector which threatened to use weapons against incumbent Kiev authorities on Sunday. This is also a signal to the West to influence those who do not want to stop the war,” Adamishin noted.

“If Europe jointly with Russia can speak a more insistent language with Kiev without looking back at the US, then certainly, not immediately, but gradually, Ukrainian authorities can be forced to end the war and begin political talks with opponents in the country’s east,” the diplomat added.

 

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TASS may not share the opinions of its contributors