(VOVworld) – High-level talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the EU on energy security and the conflict in eastern Ukraine took place in Minsk, Belarus, on Tuesday. Developments prior to the talks showed that the countries have very different views on the Ukraine situation. Observers have predicted the talks will fail to make any breakthrough to peace in Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces have recently made gains against separatists in the east (photo: bbc.com) |
The talks have convened with relations tense between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine has accused Russia of opening a new battlefield in the eastern region. Russia has announced it will continue sending aid despite Ukraine’s objection.
Opposite views
In an interview on ARD, a German TV channel, on August 24 Chancellor Angela Merkel said she believes only a political solution is possible, which the European Union and Germany want to help and should help. She rejected a military solution to the conflict. Merkel said she wants to find a way that doesn't damage Russia and wants to have good trade relations with Russia. She said the Ukrainian situation is fragile and Germany will do its best to find a solution.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Ukraine should have good relations with both Russia and the EU, which will not be easy. He pledged that France will engage in reducing tension between Russia and Ukraine.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Catherine Ashton thought the meeting had a good chance to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. She said Ukraine needs to build good relations with the EU and Russia.
In contrast to the EU, US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the US will increase pressure on Russia following a NATO report that Russian soldiers and weapons were involved in military activities in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry denied NATO’s accusation.
In Ukraine, Parliamentary Speaker Alexander Turchinov said on national TV that it will be impossible to resolve the crisis diplomatically.
More activities to widen differences
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Russia supports all effort to ensure Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russia will help the Ukrainian people reach an internal consensus so they can live in a country where people of all ethnic groups, cultures, and languages are respected. Lavrov said Russia will send a second humanitarian convoy to Ukraine. The plan is not supported by Ukraine.
Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council information center, accused Russia of transporting 10 tanks to the federalization forces in eastern Ukraine. He said Russia aims to open a new combat front in southern Donetsk. President Petro Poroshenko says Ukraine will invest nearly 3 billion USD in military aircraft from 2015 to 2017. He said this is an initial step in a program to rearm and revitalize the Ukrainian army. Ukraine marked 23 years of separation from Russia on August 24 with a big military parade in Kiev involving heavy weaponry and 1,500 soldiers.
Actions provoking mutual suspicion have made it more difficult to reach a peaceful solution for Ukraine.