Ukraine crisis creates bad will between Nato and Russia / EU to step in as mediator in Ukraine

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 01.02.14
Publication Date 01/02/2014
Content Type

Russian, US and European leaders at the Munich Security Conference on the 1 February 2014 clashed over the situation of protest and unrest in Ukraine.

US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed the solidarity of the US and EU with the people of Ukraine. His Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov criticised the West for getting too involved.

European Council President Herman van Rompuy said 'the future of Ukraine lies in Europe'.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Štefan Füle said that only the promise of future EU accession could change former Soviet states.

Ukrainian opposition politician Vitaly Klitschko said that, in the short term, the opposition needed EU sanctions on Ukrainian officials to pressure them to call early elections.

While Russia called for the Ukrainian opposition to stop its posture of threats and ultimatums, the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said sanctions should be used as a threat against Ukraine's government unless it finds a political solution to its long-running dispute with the opposition.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry quickly reacted to these statements by calling in Berlin's ambassador to Kyiv, saying later in a statement: "It was emphasised that there was a need for an objective assessment of the development of the internal political processes of the situation in our state and that provocative statements should be avoided."

Vitali Klitschko was quoted as saying on the 5 February 2014 that he EU was ready to delegate high-level representatives to act as mediators in talks between the opposition and the authorities in Ukraine. Štefan Füle, the Enlargement and Neighbourhood Commissioner told the European Parliament on that same day that the EU’s role in Ukraine was to facilitate dialogue and avoid ‘worst-case scenarios’, including a state of emergency.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://euobserver.com/foreign/122969
Related Links
EEAS: Press Release, 31.01.14: Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton following her meeting with Ukrainian opposition http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140131_05_en.pdf
EEAS: Press Release, 31.01.14: Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the case of Dmytro Bulatov http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140131_en_02.pdf
BBC News, 01.02.14: Ukraine unrest: EU and US clash with Russia in Munich http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25996453
Deutsche Welle, 01,.02.14: Ukraine divides world powers at Munich Security Conference http://dw.de/p/1B1EU
Website: Munich Security Conference https://www.securityconference.de/en/
EUObserver, 01.02.14: EU commissioner calls for Ukraine accession promise http://euobserver.com/foreign/122972
France24, 02.02.14: US backs ‘European aspirations’ in Ukraine, Kerry says http://www.france24.com/en/20140201-us-backs-europe-aspirations-ukraine-kerry-opposition/
The Guardian, 01.02.14: US and Europe stand with people of Ukraine, says John Kerry http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/01/us-europe-stand-people-ukraine-john-kerry
EurActiv, 03.02.14: EU, US to provide ‘significant’ aid to Ukraine: Ashton http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/eu-us-provide-significant-aid-uk-news-533212
European Council: Press Release, PRES/14/46: Opening speech by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy at the Munich Security Conference http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140883.pdf
EurActiv, 04.02.14: Russia, West say new Ukraine government is condition for aid http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/russia-west-new-ukraine-governme-news-533240
EUObserver, 04.02.14: Ashton off to Kiev with new financial offer http://euobserver.com/foreign/122996
BBC News, 03.02.14: Russia warns Ukraine opposition as protests continue http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26019790
Deutsche Welle, 03.02.14: EU, US mull economic aid package for restless Ukraine http://dw.de/p/1B2B5
The New York Times, 03.02.14: U.S. and Europe Work on Aid Package for Ukraine http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/world/europe/us-and-europe-work-on-financial-solution-to-ukraine-crisis.html
Euronews, 03.02.14: EU: no bidding war over Ukraine http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/03/eu-no-bidding-war-over-ukraine/
The Guardian, 04.02.14: German minister calls for sanctions threat against Ukraine http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/04/german-minister-ukraine-sanctions
ESO: Background information: Ukrainian protester says he was kidnapped and tortured http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukrainian-protester-says-he-was-kidnapped-and-tortured/
EurActiv, 05.02.14: EU to step in as mediator in Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/eu-step-mediator-ukraine-news-533277
Deutsche Welle, 04.02.14: Ukraine summons German ambassador after Steinmeier comments http://dw.de/p/1B2Eh
Deutsche Welle [Opinion], 04.02.14: Opinion: Pragmatism instead of confrontation with Russia http://dw.de/p/1B2QJ
Deutsche Welle, 05.02.14: Bitter stalemate grips Ukraine http://dw.de/p/1B2qA
Deutsche Welle, 05.02.14: Putin and Yanukovych to meet on sidelines of Sochi http://dw.de/p/1B2tK
Euronews, 04.02.14: EU’s Ashton in fresh talks over Ukraine leaders tug-of-war http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/05/eu-s-ashton-in-fresh-talks-over-ukraine-leaders-tug-of-war/
European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/14/94: Ukraine: how to find way out of the current crisis http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-94_en.pdf
EurActiv, 06.02.14: Füle says EU role in Ukraine is to avoid ‘worst-case scenarios’ http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/fuele-eu-role-ukraine-avoid-wors-news-533306
European Parliament: Press Release, 06.02.14: Ukraine: MEPs call for EU travel ban and financial support http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140203IPR34628/

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