Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has called for an international peacekeeping mission for his country after ordering several thousand of his troops out of the strategic eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve, which has been taken over by Russia-backed separatists. Poroshenko's office reported late Wednesday that a meeting of the country's National Defense and Security Council chaired by the Ukrainian president had come to a decision that the United Nations should be asked to send "a peacekeeping mission, which will act in accordance with the mandate of the U.N. Security Council." The move came just hours after thousands of Ukrainian troops fled Debaltseve, a strategic rail hub that links the separatist strongholds of Luhansk and Donetsk. The appeal for international peacekeepers was rejected Thursday by both Moscow and the rebels. Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations said the proposal suggests Kyiv is trying to undermine the cease-fire reached last week in Minsk, Belarus. "When someone starts to propose some schemes instead of doing what had been agreed, it primarily arouses suspicion that they want to undermine the Minsk agreements," Churkin was quoted as saying by the Russian state-owned TASS news agency. Denis Pushilin, spokesman for the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, also said Ukraine's request for international peacekeepers "violates the set of measures aimed at implementing Minsk's February 12 peaceful settlement agreements," according to the Interfax news agency. The rebels reportedly have captured hundreds of government troops and surrounded those it did not take prisoner, cutting off their food and water supplies. The White House said Wednesday that it is "crystal clear" that Russia and the separatists in eastern Ukraine are not living up to the cease-fire agreement, and warned this puts them "at risk of greater costs." "They should be mindful of that as they consider their next steps," spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters, adding that the Obama administration continues to believe "that the way the situation can be resolved is around the negotiating table." Also Wednesday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington does not consider the Minsk agreement and cease-fire in Ukraine "dead," but remains "gravely concerned" over reports that the separatists are continuing to attack Debaltseve and are violating the cease-fire in other locations. Psaki said Secretary of State Kerry spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on Wednesday and urged him to stop Russian and separatist attacks. French leaders, who helped negotiate the cease-fire, also insisted Wednesday that it is not dead. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the main task is fulfilling the truce and saving the lives of the people stuck in the fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russia insists it has no weapons or forces in eastern Ukraine, despite evidence and reports from witnesses that it has taken a direct role in the fighting.
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1ErkcNV
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1ErkcNV
0 التعليقات:
إرسال تعليق