Kuleba, Borrel coordinate positions ahead of EU High Representative's visit to Russia

02.02.2021 15:29

Ukrinform

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell have held a phone call to coordinate their positions ahead of Borrell's visit to Russia, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service has reported.

"Josep Borrell assured Dmytro Kuleba that the EU's policy towards Russia will not change until the full fulfillment of Russia's obligations under the Minsk agreements," the report said.

Both parties discussed the situation in Russia and strongly condemned the violence against peaceful protesters, the brutal suppression of democratic protests by the Russian authorities, and systemic human rights violations in Russia in general.

Kuleba raised the issue of the EU imposing new restrictive measures against Russia in the field of human rights, which, among other things, should also apply to those guilty of persecuting Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

The sides paid special attention to the upcoming launch of the Crimean Platform and the EU's support for this initiative.

Kuleba thanked Borrell for his personal role in providing Ukraine with rapid access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Kuleba briefed Borrell on the current situation with the peaceful settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict in Donbas as part of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group.

Kuleba also briefed Borrell on the situation in the conflict zone in Donbas and the situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Borrell reaffirmed that he would inform the Russian side about a clear unchanging EU position on non-recognition of Russia's illegal attempted annexation of Crimea.

"Our conversation sends a clear signal that Ukraine's and the EU's policy towards Russia is coordinated, and Kyiv and Brussels share a common vision of their strategic approaches to Russia," Kuleba said.

A separate topic of the conversation concerned current issues on the agenda of Ukraine-EU relations, in particular preparations for a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council in Brussels on February 11 and the Eastern Partnership summit scheduled for 2021.

Borrell said he expected the successful holding of the Association Council meeting.

Borrell confirmed his intention to pay a visit to Ukraine, including a visit to the contact line in Donbas, as soon as COVID-19 restrictions allow doing so.

Borrell will pay his first visit to Moscow on February 4-6.