US Calls on Russia to Help Disarm Separatists in Eastern Ukraine
The normalisation of Ukraine could come true under mounting pressure of Western countries on Russia, after US Secretary of State John Kerry’s firmly called on the Kremlin to disarm separatists in Eastern Ukraine.
"We are in full agreement that it is critical for Russia to show in the next hours, literally, that they're moving to help disarm the separatists, to encourage them to disarm, to call on them to lay down their weapons and to begin to become part of a legitimate process," Kerry said on Thursday.
In the while, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
‘The two leaders continued their exchange on the issue of international assistance in the resolution of the acute crisis in Ukraine. In particular, they discussed control over the compliance by the conflicting parties with the ceasefire terms and conditions, and the need to extend the truce, to organise a regular contact group and to release the individuals held by force,’ the Kremlin wrote on Thursday.
According to some reports, rebels agreed to take part in peace talks on Friday and Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko is about to present a draft constitution to extend powers to Eastern Regions of the country. Nonetheless, the equilibrium remains wobbly and the tensions may soon resume, as the ceasefire officially ends at 10 pm on Friday.
‘The State Border Service ascertains the presence in the border area of illegal armed groups and movement of military equipment and subdivisions of the Armed Forces of Russia in the vicinity of Ukrainian border,’ the Ukrainian government wrote on Wednesday.
Kiev is also preparing a court appeal on recovery of losses stemming from Russian annexation of Crimea. According to a Naftogaz’ press release, the country intends to regain control over Chornomornaftogaz.
Despite the tensions, gas flow from Ukraine remained in normal mode also on Thursday.
‘According to the state at 09:00 (CET), 26 June 2014 related to transmission from East to the European Union, Eustream didn´t record pressure reduction or gas volumes decrease at the Compressor Station Veľké Kapušany on the border with Ukraine,’ Eustream said in the morning.