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Ukraine/Russia We stand united in our
conviction that the conflict in Ukraine can only be solved by diplomatic means
and in full respect for international law, especially the legal obligation to
respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. We
reiterate our condemnation of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula
by Russia and reaffirm our policy of its non-recognition and sanctions against
those involved.
We are concerned by continued violence along
the line of contact in violation of the ceasefire; we urge all sides to take
concrete steps that will lead to the complete ceasefire required under the
Minsk agreements. We also urge all sides to fulfill their commitments without
delay with a view to holding local elections in certain areas of the Donetsk
and Luhansk regions as soon as possible in accordance with the Minsk
agreements. We emphasize our strongest support for full implementation of the
Minsk agreements and the work of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact
Group. We expect Russia to live up to its commitments and use its influence
over the separatists to meet their commitments in full. We stress the OSCE's
key role in helping to deescalate the crisis, and we call upon all sides,
particularly the separatists, to provide the organization’s monitors full and
unfettered access throughout the conflict zone.
We recall that the duration of sanctions is
clearly linked to Russia’s complete implementation of the Minsk agreements and
respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Sanctions can be rolled back when Russia meets
these commitments. However, we also stand ready to take further restrictive
measures in order to increase cost on Russia should its actions so require. We
recognize the importance of maintaining dialogue with Russia in order to ensure
it abides by the commitments it has made as well as international law and to
reach a comprehensive, sustainable and peaceful solution to the crisis.
We commend and support the steps Ukraine is
taking to implement comprehensive structural, governance and economic reforms and
encourage Ukraine to continue and accelerate the process. We urge Ukraine to
maintain and enhance the momentum in its fight against corruption and its
judicial reform, including the Prosecutor General’s office. We are fully
committed to providing long-term support to this end. We also commend the work
of the Ukraine support group of G7 Ambassadors in Kyiv.
We reaffirm our commitment to undertake joint
efforts with Ukraine to convert the Chernobyl site into a stable and
environmentally safe condition, 30 years after the catastrophe....
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