I/II. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russia-urges-ukraine-to-stop-military-operation-in-donetsk/500926.html
Russia Urges Ukraine to Stop Military Operation in Donetsk - Reuters - May. 27 2014 08:49 - Last edited 08:48 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a news conference. Russia has urged the Ukrainian government to halt what it calls a military operation against its own people and called on the OSCE international monitoring mission to investigate clashes with pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Donetsk. Ukraine launched air strikes and a paratrooper assault against pro-Russian rebels who seized an airport on Monday, as its newly elected leader rejected any talks with "terrorists". "In connection with reports of armed clashes near Donetsk that have led to casualties, we urgently appeal to the leadership of the OSCE and its special monitoring mission in Ukraine to provide detailed information on the events there," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "We expect objective and comprehensive information about this from representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and from the Kiev authorities -- a halt to the military operations against its own people." Echoing remarks by President Vladimir Putin in the past few days, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was ready to work with Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's next president. But he warned the Kiev authorities not to step up armed operations against separatists in the east. II. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27573622 26 May 2014 Last updated at 12:50 Ukraine crisis: Russia 'open to dialogue' with new leader Mark Lowen said rebels seemed to be grouping together to seize control Russia says it is "open to dialogue" with the new president of Ukraine, as initial results suggested Petro Poroshenko would win its election. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said military action must end against separatists in the east. Mr Poroshenko said he would meet Russian leaders soon but vowed to take a tough line on any armed separatists. Unrest continues in the east, with pro-Russia militiamen halting flights at Donetsk airport. Heavy gunfire is now reported there, with thick black smoke rising from the area. Military aircraft have been seen overhead. Meanwhile election observers said Sunday's vote was a genuine one that largely met international standards. The mission from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also said it gave the new president "legitimacy" to open a dialogue with separatists in the east. 'No Somalia' Mr Lavrov told a press conference in Moscow: "We are ready for dialogue with Kiev's representatives, with Petro Poroshenko." Mr Lavrov said EU and US mediation were not needed, but warned Kiev that continuing military operations against the separatists would be a "colossal mistake". Petro Poroshenko: "Without Russia it would be much less effective or almost impossible to speak about the security in the whole region" He said: "As our president [Vladimir Putin] has said, we shall treat the results of the expression of will of the Ukrainian people with respect." But Mr Lavrov said Kiev must also treat its people with respect and that dialogue with the east was necessary to resolve the crisis. Mr Poroshenko said he hoped to meet Russian leaders early next month, after a trip to Poland where he will meet the US president and EU leaders. However, he warned he would take a tough line on armed militiamen. He said: "Their goal is to turn Donbass [east Ukraine] into Somalia. I will not let anyone do this to our state and I hope that Russia will support my approach." Mr Poroshenko also indicated he would keep current Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, saying: "There are no plans to change the government leadership." Mr Poroshenko, 48, currently has 53.75% of the vote, with 70% of the ballots counted, and would not need a run-off. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is a distant second on 13.1%. Full results are expected on Monday. Flights were halted in Donetsk on security grounds The election came three months after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev amid bloody street protests and calls for closer ties with the EU. Since then, Russia has annexed the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine and armed separatists in the eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk have declared independence. Mr Yanukovych has also said he will accept the election result, "no matter which regions and what percentage of the population voted", Russian media reported. Ukraine's interim government is engaged in an offensive in the east to quash the uprising that has left scores dead. Pro-Russian separatists severely disrupted voting there. No polling stations were open in Donetsk city, and across the region only seven out of 12 district electoral commissions were operating. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
