US, Russia seek diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis
(Vatican Radio) The United States and Russia say they have agreed that a diplomatic
solution should be found to end the biggest East-West confrontation over Ukraine since
the Cold War.
However more than four hours of talks between U.S. Secretary
of State John Kerry (pictured) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov failed to
produce concrete steps on how to end the crisis.
After a hastily arranged
meeting in Paris with his Russian counterpart, US Secretary of State Kerry saw some
however hope to avoid more bloodshed in Ukraine, where Russian forces are in control
of the Crimean Peninsula.
Kerry said both sides agreed that "a diplomatic
solution should be found" to "de-escalate the security and political situation in
and around Ukraine".
And, he said, "We also agreed to work with the Ukrainian
government and the people to implement the steps that they are taking to ensure the
following priorities: the rights of national minorities, language rights, demobilization
and disarmament of irregular forces and provocateurs, an inclusive constitutional
reform process and free and fair elections monitored by the international community."
NO DECISIONS
His Russian counterpart Lavrov confirmed the agreement
in a similar statement. However Kerry said there would be no decisions about Ukraine
without Ukraine.
Ukraine's interim government has already rejected Russian
suggestions to make the country a more neutral federation.
Kerry also warned
that real progress can only be made if Russia withdraws tens of thousands of Russian
troops near Ukraine's borders.
“Any real progress in Ukraine must include
a pull back of the very large Russian force that is currently massing along Ukrainian’s
borders and tonight I raised with the foreign minister our strong concern about his
forces," Kerry told reporters.
"We believe that these forces are creating
a climate of fear and intimidation,” he added.
NO PLANS
Yet, Minister
Lavrov denied those forces plan to invade Ukraine.
Ahead of the talks he said,
"We have absolutely no intention of, or interest in, crossing Ukraine's borders. We
only want for the work to be multilateral."
Their meeting came amid fresh
tensions in Ukraine.
While Pro-European activists held a rally in the western
Ukrainian city of Odessa on Sunday, Pro-Russian demonstrators could be seen standing
atop of Soviet era tanks holding Russian national flags at a World War II museum in
the eastern city of Donetsk.