Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (R) as EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (L) and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (C) looks at them prior their talks after after posing for a photo in Minsk, Belarus, 26 August 2014. Photo: PAP/EPA/SERGEI BONDARENKO/POOL
“The fate of peace and the fate of Europe are being decided in Minsk today,” said Poroshenko as the talks got under way.
Speaking on the peace plan which he had originally devised in June, Poroshenko said that “I am convinced that this plan is still timely and the only possible tool which can put a stop to the spilling of blood and assure the reconstruction of the Donbass after the conflict.”
“The prime condition for a stabilisation of the situation in Donbass is the establishment of effective control over the Russian-Ukrainian border. It is vital to do everything to stop deliveries of equipment and arms to the fighters,” he added.
The comments came during a meeting between participating members of the Moscow-led ‘Customs Union’ – Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan – with Ukraine and representatives of the EU, including foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
During the meeting in Minsk, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the crisis in Ukraine cannot be solved with a further military escalation “without taking into account vital interests of the south-eastern regions of the country and without a peaceful dialogue with its representatives”.
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht pose in front of flags during a summit in Minsk, Belarus, 26 August 2014. Photo: PAP/EPA/MAKSIM GUCHEK/POOL
Association Agreement leaves a dent in Customs Union?
Speaking on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, Putin said that Moscow “always has and always will respect” decisions taken by other countries as long as they do not incur costs for Russia.
According to the Russian president, the Association Agreement could cost the Russian economy 100 billion roubles (2.1 billion euro) if goods sourced in the EU reach Russia via Ukraine.
“Russia cannot remain idle in such a case and we will simply be forced to take decisive measures to protect our market,” Putin stated, as cited by Reuters.
EU presence
Meanwhile, the EU’s head of diplomacy Catherine Ashton said during the meeting that she wants “to try and support the people of Ukraine people to find peace and security, to ensure that they are able to enjoy territorial integrity, a future that is economically viable … and growing and good relations with their neighbours.”
Ashton came to Minsk for the talks with the commissioners for energy and trade, Gunther Oettinger and Karel de Gucht respectively.
Host of the meeting, President Aleksander Lukashenko, commonly dubbed ‘Europe’s last dictator’, said that the main aim of the meeting is to stop the bloodshed, appealing to participants to discard their political ambitions and think about the fate of ordinary people. The comments come as the conflict in Ukraine has displaced over 300,000 people and killed over 2,000.
“We have prepared the final document – if you want, let’s discuss and ratify it,” he said. (jb)
Sources: PAP/BBC/AP/Reuters