Granting autonomy to the occupied areas of Donbass is unacceptable – Klimkin
Granting autonomy to the occupied areas of Donbass is unacceptable for Ukraine, since it will lead to the legitimization of the Russian protectorate over the territory. It was stated by Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin in an interview with Deutsche Welle, - reports LIGABusinessInform.
"If we grant autonomy to Donbass, as Russia wants, it will lead to the federalization of Ukraine, tits weakening and separation. It is Russia’s aim. It is the legitimization of the Russian protectorate in Donbass," - said the Foreign Minister.
According to him, Kremlin's further strategy will be to "push back the protectorate to Ukraine as a Trojan horse."
Klimkin expressed the belief that a number of factors would contribute to the peace in Donbass: cessation of the shelling; possibility for the OSCE to control the entire area and part of the border with Russia; arms withdrawal.
Only after these requirements are met, it will be ipossible to conduct a dialogue in Donbass on "open and fair elections", he said.
"Can we start preparing for the elections, having a large number of weapons in Donbass that is constantly supplied through the Russian-Ukrainian border?" - Asks the Minister a rhetorical question.
The Minister also said that Ukraine was in favour of compliance with the Minsk agreements and Norman format of negotiations.
Russia occupied the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in 2014. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially announced February 20th, 2014-the beginning of the temporary occupation of the Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia. Key international organizations, including the UN General Assembly, condemned Russia's actions and called the occupation and annexation of the Crimea as illegal. Economic sanctions were imposed against Russia.
After the capture of the Crimea, armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine continued in Donbass where Moscow created terrorist organizations called the DPR and LPR that seized part of Donetsk and Luhansk regions with the support of the Russian. Both organizations are funded and maintained by Russia where, among other things, the terrorists get fighters, trainers, as well as heavy equipment, weapons, ammunition and fuel.