Interfax
April 14, 2014
Russia to take measures in case NATO force configuration changes – Grushko
MOSCOW/BRUSSELS: Russia can take measures necessary to ensure its security, if NATO will expand military forces near Russian borders, Russian Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko said.
“Russia has exited the Cold War and has no intention to return there. At the same time, we will take into account in our military planning any possible changes in NATO forces and configurations and, if necessary, will take necessary measures in the interests of ensuring our security,” Grushko told Interfax on Monday when commenting on statements of NATO representatives that NATO contingent could be sent to Eastern Europe amid the events in Ukraine.
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Interfax
April 14, 2014
Lavrov warns Kyiv against using force in southeast Ukraine
MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has renewed his calls on the Ukrainian authorities to refrain from using force against demonstrators in the country’s southeast.
“If the current rulers in Kyiv decide to use force against demonstrators in the southeast, then our cooperation will be undermined, there is no doubt about that,” he said on Monday, while opening a meeting with members of the global coordination council of Russian compatriots on Monday.
Russia, the European Union, the United States and Ukraine are currently discussing the possibility of holding a four-party meeting aimed at helping settle the Ukrainian crisis, Lavrov recalled.
Overall, as far as international policy is concerned, a number of countries, primarily the U.S. and the EU “have not stopped their attempts to prove their exceptionalism, their right to be the stronger one,” he said. Often the steps being undertaken affect Russia’s interests, as was the case in the situation with Ukraine where “a coup was committed with overt backing of the U.S. and the EU,” he said.
Russia is calling for a broad national dialogue involving all the Ukrainian political forces and regions concerned, as well as for a constitutional reform and for giving Russian an official language status, Lavrov said. At the same time, “all these matters must be decided by Ukrainians themselves,” he said.
Also, Ukraine’s non-aligned status and its guarantee by international actors are of principled importance, the ministry said.
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Itar-Tass
April 14, 2014
Kiev’s operation in southeast of Ukraine can lead to civil war World April 14, 20:26 UTC+4 MOSCOW
MOSCOW: A special operation in the southeast of Ukraine ordered by the Kiev authorities can lead to a civil war in the country, Russia’s Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Andrei Kelin told Rossiya 24 television on Monday, April 14.
“It is known that they (authorities in Kiev) are planning to begin a counter-terrorism operation against peaceful demonstrators who have simple demands – greater autonomy (for regions) and the status of Russian (as a second official language),” he said.
According to Kelin, the Kiev authorities are forming troops made up of “patriots”. “All this can lead to a civil war. And this is a matter of serious concern to us,” Kelin said.
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