Sikorski calls on Russia: do not enter Ukraine; PAP dispatch
Do not enter eastern Ukraine under any circumstances – Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called on the Russian authorities in Krakow on Friday.
Sikorski and Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi took part in the re-opening of Hungary’s Consulate in Krakow.
“Given what
happened in Donetsk yesterday and what still may happen in the coming days, I
want to repeat this appeal to the Russian authorities: do not enter eastern
Ukraine under any circumstances,” the chief of Poland’s diplomacy told
journalists.
Sikorski
said he was worried about the incidents in Donetsk on Thursday, “where people
died only because they had demonstrated for Ukraine’s unity,” and declarations
that similar attacks could take place in Kharkiv and possibly in other places
over the weekend.
Asked about
possible scenarios in Ukraine, Poland’s top diplomat pointed out that the international
community would not recognize the results of Sunday’s referendum in Crimea.
“The international community will not recognize the results of an illegal
referendum that is held in such circumstances. The Russian side has the
peninsula under its military control, which is a sad and brutal fact,”
emphasized the chief of Poland’s diplomacy.
Hungary’s
Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi said he did not believe anyone could predict
what would happen in Ukraine in the coming weeks. “To a large extent this is
not up to us, Europe and the Western world. At this stage, we should prepare
for all eventualities,” he said.
He recalled
that on Monday Brussels will host a meeting of EU top diplomats, who are
expected to decide about sanctions against Russia and speeding up the help for
Ukraine. “The key thing will be to demonstrate that we stand united,” he
stressed.
Martonyi
also said that “if the territorial integrity of a country can be wrecked, you
never know where this process will end.” “We must believe that reason will
triumph over emotions and irrational attitudes,” he underlined.
On Thursday,
Donetsk was the scene of clashes between a pro-Russia rally and protesters
demanding Ukraine’s unity. Media reports say two or three people died.
In a
statement released on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said: “Russia is
aware of its responsibility for the lives of compatriots and fellow citizens in
Ukraine and reserves the right to take people under its protection.”
Speaking
after talks with his US counterpart John Kerry on Friday afternoon, Russia’s
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov assured that Russia did not plan to march into
eastern Ukraine.
http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/
Няма коментари:
Публикуване на коментар