NATO boss urges West to maintain pressure on Russia over Ukraine

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NATO boss urges West to maintain pressure on Russia over Ukraine

 

 

BRUSSELS: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged the international community on Wednesday to maintain pressure on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

 

He spoke as Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin was given a warm welcome at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

 

Stoltenberg said sanctions must remain against Russia and denounced a “massive increase in ceasefire violations” of the Minsk peace deal.

 

“I call on all parties to redouble their efforts to implement the Minsk agreements in full,” he said.

 

“As a first step, we need to see an immediate and full ceasefire. In the meantime, the international community must keep pressuring Russia to respect its obligations, especially while the security situation in eastern Ukraine remains so serious. It is important that economic sanctions be maintained.”

 

Disagreements have come to the surface as EU countries discuss an extension of sanctions.

 

The Minsk peace agreement, brokered by France and Germany and signed by Russia and Ukraine in February 2015, calls for a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and separatists backed by Russia, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line and constitutional reform to give eastern Ukraine more autonomy.

 

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed more than 9,600 soldiers, civilians and pro-Russian rebels since April 2014.

 

with Reuters

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-12-08

[craigt3365]

I'm sure those in Ukraine would like to see the Russian soldiers leave their country.  Can't blame them.

[William C F Pierce]

Unfortunately the Crimea and East Ukraine have an ethnic population that was originally dumped there by Stalin. That is why Russia sees it as an excuse to abuse international law. I suspect Russia wants control of the whole of the Azon Sea for use as a military navel base.

[Gene1960]

Unfortunately the Crimea and East Ukraine have an ethnic population that was originally dumped there by Stalin. That is why Russia sees it as an excuse to abuse international law. I suspect Russia wants control of the whole of the Azon Sea for use as a military navel base.

I believe for Russia the Azov Sea is not enough. It's a shallow cul-de-sac. The Crimea and the existing Sevastopol naval and air bases can control almost all of the Black Sea.
Agree about the abuse of the international law as we know it today.

[Stargeezr]

The  UN  should start  international  proceedings  to that Putin  and Assad iry

of Syria  are  both  war  criminals.....  Period.. 

I doubt  that  will happen  in our  life times.

Geezer

 

[craigt3365]

9 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

The  UN  should start  international  proceedings  to that Putin  and Assad iry

of Syria  are  both  war  criminals.....  Period.. 

I doubt  that  will happen  in our  life times.

Geezer

 

Several nations, and the UN, are talking about charging Russia and Assad with crimes against humanity.  Hopefully, they will.  But as you say, nobody has the guts to stop these criminals.