The G7 and the European Union have demanded that Russia stop its provocations on the border with Ukraine

The G7 foreign ministers (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) and EU High Representative (EU) Joseph Borel were “deeply concerned” this Monday. It was “illegally incorporated” in 2014 in connection with the large concentration of Russian military forces on the borders of Ukraine and Crimea.

“These large-scale troop movements, without prior notice, represent acts of intimidation and instability.”The leaders of European diplomacy and the G7 countries said in a joint statement.

They appealed to Russia So “he stops his provocations and immediately reduces the tensions” In accordance with its international obligations.

In particular, they called on the government of Vladimir Putin to sign a statement on the transparency of military operations and to respond to the practice established in Chapter III (Risk) to respect the policies and responsibilities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Reduction) of the Vienna Document on Confidence and Security-Building Measures.

The G7 ministers and the EU High Representative recalled their last statement on March 18, in which they reaffirmed Its “firm support for independence, sovereignty and regional unity within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders” They supported Ukraine’s “moderate” position.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmitry Kuleba, Meets NATO Secretary General this Tuesday, Jens Stoltenberg, In Brussels, a few days after telling the agency EFE Your country’s entry into this alliance is the only sure guarantee of security in Europe amid tensions with Russia.

The leaders of European diplomacy and the G7 countries, for their part, expressed their “strong” recognition and “continued support” for the efforts of France and Germany through the Normandy process to ensure the full implementation of the Minsk Accords, the only way to a lasting political solution to the conflict. “

Moreover, they stressed on all sides Participate constructively in the tripartite liaison committee on OSCE projects Stabilize and coordinate the ceasefire.

After the country condemned the escalation of the Russian military presence on the border and the escalation of tensions in the Donbass, the Kremlin promised that “no one” wanted to go to war with Ukraine, where since 2014 the military has confronted Ukrainians and pro-Russian separatists.

So far this year, a total of 26 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed by Russian-backed separatists in Donbass., Despite a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, the last 24-year-old soldier on Saturday.

Kiev on Saturday demanded a meeting for Russia (OSCE) to explain its increasing military presence on the border with Ukraine, but Moscow refused to attend, diplomatic sources said.

Ukraine blames Russia for fears Kremlin seeks excuse to attack it Gather more than 80,000 troops in Crimea near its eastern border, Incorporated by Moscow in 2014. According to the latest estimates, There are about 41,000 Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine, Announced on Monday AFP Presidential Spokeswoman Yulia Mendel. In Crimea, 9,000 soldiers were recently added to the existing 33,000He added.

Ukrainian president faces uprisingVolodymyr Zhelensky, On March 26, he requested a telephone conversation with his Russian envoy, Vladimir Putin, but no response was forthcoming, Mendel said.

In addition, Zhelensky visited the border a few days ago and visited the trenches.

Ukrainian forces have been battling pro-Russian separatist rebels organized in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (not recognized by the international community) since 2014, when Russia began occupying and annexing the Crimean peninsula and supporting separatists in the region. More than 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict and efforts to reach a negotiated settlement have so far failed..

With information from EFE and AFP

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