UNITED NATIONS, February 18. /TASS/. Russia hopes that the United States will thoroughly analyze Russia’s response to Washington’s remarks on security guarantees, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Friday.
"We have conveyed our written reaction to the United States’ response. This written reaction is detailed and clear," he said. "We hope it will be subject to very thorough scrutiny and analysis in Washington where it is addressed to. Because, today we are saying that we need more than mere promises, more than mere statements. We need legally binding guarantees that no one’s security will be built at the expense of the security of the other, in particular, or Russia."
On January 26, the US and NATO handed over written responses to Russia on Moscow’s security guarantees that it was demanding from Washington and Brussels. The American side requested that the documents not be made public, although US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg enumerated their basic provisions. According to these statements, the West did not make concessions to Russia considered to be critical, but did indicate directions for further negotiations.
On February 17, the Russian foreign ministry released its response to the US’ proposals. The text was posted on the ministry’s website and handed over to US Ambassador to Russia john Sullivan.
Developments in Donbass
Russia is very worried over the latest developments in Donbass and calls for stopping sufferings of civilians, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Friday.
"Of course, we are very worried over what is now happening - you have cited latest reports from the site. We are very worried that civilians in this part of Ukraine are facing such sufferings and risks," he told journalists. "Indiscriminate shelling attacks damaging civilian facilities, houses where people live are inadmissible. It must be stopped."
"After all, the ceasefire is a key element of what is envisaged by the Minsk Package of Measures," he said. "The settlement process should proceed as it was agreed or approved by the United Nations Security Council resolution. We believe that tensions could be eased on this basis."
He stressed that attempts at whipping up tensions, especially backed by the allegations about Russia’s aggressive plans are absolutely groundless. "Yesterday, I said (at an UNSC meeting on the Minsk agreements - TASS) and will repeat it now: aggression, war - these words ate being uttered in many cities, regrettably, including in Washington and other Western capitals, but not in Moscow," he said.
"We are convinced that the Minsk Package of Measures, which was supported by the Security Council’s authority, its resolution 2202, is the basis for settlement. In my speech at the Security Council meeting yesterday I tried to explain the key, principled bases of our approach," Vershinin noted. "And is approach is as follows: the Minsk Package of Measures is the only legal basis for settlement."
He stressed the importance of the full implementation of the agreements. "Regrettably, it is not done. We are trying to objectively draw attention to the fact that the Kiev authorities are not implementing their commitments. I cited example, everybody knows them and no one can deny them," he added.
The situation along the contact line in eastern Ukraine deteriorated on Thursday morning, when the self-proclaimed republics reported the most intense shelling attacks by Ukrainian troops. One civilian was wounded and several civil infrastructure facilities were damaged.
Following a dramatic deterioration of the situation in Donbass, the self-proclaimed republics on Friday announced evacuation of civilians to Russia.
Provocations in Donbass
Provocations are highly likely in Donbass, taking into account the fact that the West prods Kiev into making ill-considered steps, but they should be eliminated, Vershinin said.
"I do not think that we should talk about any specific timeframe (of Kiev’s potential operation - TASS). We have said as a matter of principle that provocations must be eliminated," he said when asked by TASS.
"Regrettably, provocations are possible in that heated atmosphere and with the Western partners prodding Kiev’s authorities into taking thoughtless actions. It must be ruled out as well," he said.
The situation along the contact line in eastern Ukraine took a turn for the worse in the morning of February 17. The DPR and LPR reported some of the most intensive shelling by Kiev’s armed forces in recent months. There have been no reports of casualties but the shelling damaged some civilian facilities.
On Friday, the leaders of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics (LPR and DPR), Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin, announced the evacuation of the republics’ inhabitants to Russia, citing the increasing threat of hostilities.