2015-01-10 11:39:00

European leaders to seek Ukraine peace


(Vatican Radio) Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev has warned that ongoing fighting in Ukraine could lead to a major military conflict between Russia and the West and he condemned sanctions against Moscow. He made the comments while Ukrainian authorities accused Russia of carrying more weapons to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine where increased rocket and mortar attacks have killed at least six people, including soldiers, in recent days. Gorbachev, a Nobel Peace Laureate, told Germany's respected weekly Der Spiegel that he is "extremely concerned" about the conflict in Ukraine, which has led to the worst east-west confrontation since the Cold War.

In the interview, published Saturday, Gorbachev warned of what he called a "catastrophic loss of trust" between Russia and the West. The man who has been credited in helping to open the Berlin Wall in 1989 which had divided Europe for decades expressed concern that in his words "we won't survive the coming years if someone losses their nerves" over the ongoing fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. 

NEW DIVISION

Gorbachev condemned Germany for what he said was "wanting to intervene everywhere" and added that German politicians wanted to create a new division in Europe. He also condemned Western sanctions as unwise and extremely dangerous. His remarks were published shortly after at least four Ukrainian soldiers and two civilians were reportedly killed in the latest violence in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.     

Ukrainian military officials said the soldiers had been killed following a surge in mortar and rocket attacks on army positions in eastern Ukraine.

And they claim a Russian aid convoy that arrived in the region on Thursday was used as cover for bringing military supplies to the rebels. Western reporters also claim to have spoken with fighters arriving from Russia. 

FOREIGN MINISTERS

Yet despite the tensions, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are expected to discuss the crisis Monday, ahead of possible talks between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents and other leaders later that week. 

Europe's security organization OSCE, which is supporting peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and pro-Russian separatists, has already monitors in the region. And Serbia, which is chairing the OSCE in 2015, wants to use its ties with Russia and Ukraine to be a mediator, explains Serbian foreign minister Iva Dacic.

"Fifteen years ago, Serbia was organizing a referendum against the OSCE presence in Serbia and Kosovo," he noted. "Now we are chairing the organization. During my recent visit to Kiev they showed the maps that reminded me to the situation in the former Yugoslavia. Unfortunately a full blown conflict has developed in Ukraine in a very short time. Ukraine even chaired the OSCE and has therefore high expectations from us how to solve this." 

Ukraine also wants to discuss the exchange of prisoners, including Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko who has been placed in solitary confinement in Moscow after nearly a month on hunger strike. 

She has been accused of killing two Russian journalists, charges she denies.








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