When last Russian soldier leaves: Kuleba lays out conditions for ending war in eastern Ukraine

19.01.2022 17:52

Ukrinform

All efforts of the international community are currently aimed at making Russia adhere to the diplomatic settlement of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, which will be resolved only when Russian troops leave the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Crimea.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba made a corresponding statement at a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Kuleba said that he was discussing the Normandy format with his American counterpart. According to him, the United States supports the efforts of Ukraine, France, and Germany within the Normandy format to restore its functioning at the level of leaders. He added that the talks also focused on the work of the Trilateral Contact Group.

"Every effort is currently aimed at making Russia adhere to the diplomatic settlement of the disputes. There is only one solution to this conflict – a diplomatic one. If Russia really seeks a political settlement, it must continue negotiations with the United States, NATO, the Normandy format countries to resolve this conflict," Kuleba said.

The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine will be settled only when the last Russian soldier leaves the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine’s chief diplomat stressed.

He thanked the Biden administration and personally Antony Blinken for the military support already provided to Ukraine to strengthen its defensive capabilities.

"I emphasize once again that Ukraine does not plan any offensive operations. We work exclusively towards strengthening our defense capabilities, and the United States remains our number one partner in this matter," the foreign minister said.

Today, January 19, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to "reaffirm the United States' commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

On January 20, Blinken will travel to Berlin to discuss recent diplomatic contacts with Russia and joint efforts to curb further Russian aggression against Ukraine.

On January 21, Blinken will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva.