Arseniy Yatsenyuk: If Russia ceases supporting and financing terrorists, the situation in Eastern Ukraine will settle for a week or two

“If Russia draws back, we will solve the situation in Eastern Ukraine for a week or two. But when Russia is supporting and financing terrorists, provides them with access to Ukrainian territory, it creates enormous difficulties,” the Prime Minister of Ukraine emphasized at the Energy Security Summit in Berlin on Wednesday, May 28.

He stressed Ukraine faces extremely difficult conditions. According to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, there exists no single tool to solve the problem: “There is a series of ways and a key way for us – to engage into peaceful negotiations with everyone who wishes peace and a united country”.

The Head of Government noted in the first days when taking the post he “clearly called upon the Eastern Ukraine with the promise that the Government will protect Russian-speaking minority”: “And we are doing that”.

Moreover, he reminded that the Government had announced about readiness to hold decentralization of power and to empower local authorities: “This is what the people of Ukraine are requesting. We should amend the Constitution and this process ought to be inclusive”.”We will do whatever we can in order to preserve peace and stability and to make Ukraine a united democratic country,” he stressed.

On the other hand, according to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the situation in Eastern Ukraine is more critical: “The trucks full loaded with armor and trained in Russia bandits crossed the Ukrainian border from the Russian side. We requested Federal Customs Service of Russia, the Russian authorities to block the frontier and not to afford the bandits to cross the border and exacerbate the situation. But they have made nothing”.

He added these criminals “are terrorizing innocent people, killing innocent Ukrainians”.

Hence, one more way, according to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, is to fight against terrorists: “To protect its citizens is the duty of each country”.

“We call on Russia and personally President Putin to condemn the terrorists, to block the border and support Ukraine in its attempts to stop terrorists,” the Head of Government emphasized.

“We understand that main aim of the Russian regime is to destroy Ukraine as a state. But we consider that President Putin will change his opinion. Russia has undermined global security, violated the UN Charter, annexed Crimea, seized the territory of the independent country and is supporting terrorists. So, Russia should be answerable for that,”  

The Head of Government accentuated Ukraine had had free and fair presidential elections.

According to him, the agenda of the Government of Ukraine include making amendments to the Constitution, decentralizing of power, empowering local authorities, changing the Budget Code and providing the regions with additional financial support, changing the Tax Code, promoting the economic growth, “considering any issues connected with the Russian-speaking minority and other issues crucial for the East”.

“I strongly believe that the newly elected President has similar or even wider agenda. So, we shall answer any legitimate question from East, as East is significant part of Ukraine,” Arseniy Yatsenyuk added.