PM: We call on Russia to begin real talks in Geneva format

Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk has urged the Russian Federation to begin real takls: "We believe that a Geneva format is the best one for such negotiations, with the participation of the US, the EU, Ukraine and Russia," he stated at a press conference following a meeting with Norway’s Prime-Minister Erna Solberg on Tuesday, November 18.

"We do not believe in words, we believe in real action. The Minsk agreement could be a way towards de-escalation. But Russia continues providing terrorists with lethal weapons, we cannot control the Ukrainian-Russian border - and this was a key requirement of the so-called Minsk agreement. Russia keeps maintaining its bandits. We urge Russia to meet the Minsk agreement", Arseniy Yatsenyuk underlined.

He has stressed that the President of Ukraine and the Government of Ukraine did their utmost to fulfill the Minsk agreement. Moreover, the Ukraine's parliament passed a range of laws under this agreement, including the special status of the territories, amnesty. The President of Ukraine signed an armistice decree.

However, the Prime Minister has emphasized, "there are no signs of de-escalation of the situation": "Russia keeps aggravating the situation."

"We can confirm the presence of a large number of Russian troops in Ukraine, on the territory controlled by the terrorists headed by Russia. We call on Russia to withdraw its troops, its agents, artillery and tanks," the Prime Minister of Ukraine underlined.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk has reminded about today’s meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is to leave for Russia: "The Government has sent a clear signal to Russia through the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany - fulfill the agreement. Russia continually violates international law, it illegally annexed the Crimea, committed invasion on the territory of Ukraine. Our right answer: we should be united, act together."

Answering questions about negotiations, Arseniy Yatsenyuk underlined: "Talks are better than shooting. But everything depends on the Russian president in the first place and his administration." If he has enough political will to stop the war against Ukraine, to observe international law, the UN Charter, we will be ready. But we see that reality is different. It seems that the main goal of President Putin is to capture Ukraine."

"He [President Vladimir Putin - Ed.] launched a war not only against Ukraine but a war against global order, a war against the West, against peace, which was established after the World War II. This is his desire to redraw the borders after the Second World War and impose new so-called "Russian order" in Europe," Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed.

"We urge the Russian Federation to begin real negotiations. We believe that a Geneva format is the best one for such negotiations, with the participation of the US, EU, Ukraine and Russia," the Prime Minister of Ukraine emphasized.