The foreign Ministry of Ukraine took into account the statement of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin about the possibility of deploying UN peacekeepers in the Donbass, but I think this proposal is a distortion of the idea of a peacekeeping mission, as among the peacekeepers could not be the Russians and the representatives of the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk national republics (DND and LNR). A statement published on Tuesday, September 5, at the website of the foreign Ministry.
“Ukraine, as a consistent advocate for the deployment of the UN peacekeeping operation in Donbas, ready to work on this issue”, – stressed in the Ministry. It noted that “took note of the proposal” and the permanent mission of Ukraine in new York “instructed to hold consultations with delegations in the UN security Council”.
“We believe that the deployment of the UN peacekeeping operation can contribute to the restoration of peace and security in the East of Ukraine”, – said in a statement.
At the same time, the foreign Ministry says that information about Putin’s proposal, common media, “testifies another attempt of Russia as parties to the conflict to submit to the aggression of domestic conflict and distort the very idea and purpose of the peacekeeping operation, which would not serve the overriding goal of sustainable peace in the Donbass and the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine”.
“In the case of a decision on the introduction of a peacekeeping operation (PKO) could not be and speeches about the presence of military or other personnel of the aggressor party in the territory of Ukraine under the guise of peacekeepers, as that would be contrary to the basic principles of UN peacekeeping, – said the Ukrainian foreign Ministry. – Equally can’t speak about obtaining the consent for the OPM from illegal armed groups operating with the support, funding and logistical support from the Russian Federation”.
The Ministry recalled that in March 2015 President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko officially sent to the Secretary General and the President of the UN security Council’s appeal for the deployment on the territory of the Ukrainian state, peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the UN. The initiative was supported by the national security Council of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada, but, “constantly sabotaged the proposals of Ukraine”.
“The purpose of this operation is to ensure durable peace in certain districts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine based on the Minsk agreements and in compliance with the basic principles and norms of the UN Charter with the increased presence of the OSCE SMM. Since then, Russia as a state aggressor constantly sabotaged the proposals of Ukraine, refusing to consider our appeal to the UN security Council and even arguing, as it was in June of 2016 that Ukraine appealed to the security Council,” – said the Minister.
Putin instructed to submit to the UN security Council resolution on the placement of UN forces in the Donbass
Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference following the summit, the BRICS stated that the presence of UN peacekeepers in the Donbas would benefit the resolution of the conflict in the South-East of Ukraine and asked the Russian foreign Ministry to submit an appropriate draft resolution to the UNSC.
According to TASS, Putin said that the deployment of UN forces is only possible after the removal of the arms and when reaching agreement on this issue with representatives of the breakaway republics of Donbass.
“We assume that the order of the Ministry of foreign Affairs to introduce a resolution in the Security Council”, – Putin said, noting that the Minister of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov here.
“You say that someone wants something to push [through the UN] really I have nothing bad do not see, I’ve already said repeatedly that I support the idea of arming the mission of the OSCE, but the OSCE refused from arming their employees, since it has neither the appropriate personnel nor experience of such work”, – said the Russian leader. Putin concluded that in this context, the presence of UN peacekeepers, or rather “those people who ensure the safety of the OSCE mission”, he believes “it is appropriate”.
“But, of course, speech can go only about the function of security of staff members of the OSCE,” he added. These forces, according to the President, should be only on the demarcation line “and to any other territories,” as well as “the resolution of this issue should not take place except after the breeding of the parties and the withdrawal of heavy equipment”.
“And it can’t be solved without direct contact with representatives of the breakaway republics of DND and LNR”, – said Putin.
The Russian leader stressed that Kiev can not spend a draft proposal on the deployment of peacekeepers in the Donbas region through the UN General Assembly, bypassing the security Council, “because the UN peacekeepers are unable to function except by decision of the Security Council.”
In 2015, Poroshenko urged the UN Security Council to send a police mission in the conflict zone, and later put forward the idea of the introduction in the Donbass police contingent of the EU. However, these appeals did not find support in the UN and the EU. Against police mission made Russia and the DNI and LC.
May 24, 2016, the press service of the Ukrainian President reportedthat “Norman four” endorsed “the deployment of police mission”, and the Kremlin saidthat were not the police mission, and the idea of weapons
OSCE monitoring mission, and added that it is necessary to take into account the views of the breakaway republics of Donbass.
Ukrainian authorities intend to secure for Russia the status of “aggressor country” at the legislative level. The relevant paragraph is in the bill on the reintegration of Donbass, which is being prepared for submission to the Verkhovna Rada.