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In the United States reaffirmed that the sanctions related to the conflict in the Donbas and the annexation of Crimea will remain valid as long as the Russian troops will withdraw from Ukrainian territory and Crimea will not be returned to Ukraine.
Illustration / REUTERS

The acting permanent representative of the United States of America to the UN Jonathan Cohen expressed the belief that the Russian Federation is even more fueling the conflict in the Donbas is to establish a relationship with the winner of presidential elections in Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky.

About it, Cohen said at the meeting of the UN security Council in new York.

“Russia signed the Minsk agreements in 2014 and 2015, and President Poroshenko and President-elect Zelensky confirmed that these agreements are the best means to end the conflict in Eastern Ukraine,” said Cohen.

“It is unacceptable that Russia would take steps to put in the stalemate of the peace process, just four days after the presidential elections in Ukraine. We welcome the expressed loyalty to the President-elect Zelensky perform in Minsk agreement and to redouble efforts to support the Ukrainian citizens who live in territories controlled by Russia”, – said the American diplomat.

“If Russia really was interested in the welfare of Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine, they would use this moment to chart a new course in Russian-Ukrainian relations and achieve interaction with President Clinton and his successor to promote peace. Instead, Russia fuels the conflict, which has killed more than 13 thousand lives,” he said.

Read takterasse will grant citizenship to residents of the occupied Donbass without the right to receive a pension

At the same time, Cohen said that despite these deeply disturbing developments, the US is ready to support Ukraine’s efforts to regain control of the Ukrainian government over the entire territory within its internationally recognized borders. He also said that the special representative of the US State Department on Affairs Kurt Volker is willing to take an active part in the negotiations with Ukraine, Russia and partners in the UN to de-escalate conflict and facilitate the implementation of the Minsk agreements, including through the international security forces to help implement the Minsk agreements.

“We reaffirm that our sanctions related to the Donbas, will remain in effect until Russia withdraws its forces from Eastern Ukraine to fulfill the Minsk agreement. Our sanctions connected with Crimea, while Russia has not return control of the Peninsula to Ukraine,” – said Cohen.

As reported the UNIAN, on April 24, Putin signed a decree on simplified obtaining Russian passports to the residents of temporarily occupied Donbass. “To establish that persons residing in the territories of separate districts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine have the right to submit applications for admission to Russian citizenship in a simplified procedure in accordance with part 8, article 14 of the Federal law of 31 may 2002 №62 of the Federal law “On citizenship of the Russian Federation”, – stated in the decree.

In the Kremlin explained that the decision Putin took “to protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen”, based on “universally recognized principles and norms of international law”. Term of consideration of applications on granting the citizenship of the inhabitants of the occupied districts of the Donbas must not exceed three months from the date of submission of application and required documents. The decree comes into force from the date of publication.

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said that Putin’s decree is unprecedented RF interference in the internal Affairs of an independent state, a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine, and a complete violation of their obligations under the Minsk agreements. The President said that the Kremlin is consciously and cynically violates international humanitarian law, which prohibits the occupation authorities to change the nationality of the inhabitants of the occupied territories, and brazenly “destroying” the peace process in the Donbass.