Speech by Permanent Representative to the OSCE Andrey Kelin at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine and the need for urgent steps to implement the Minsk agreements, Vienna, February 12, 2015

Mr Chairperson,

Today, the leaders of the four Normandy format countries issued an important statement in support of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements, approved by the Contact Group. We hope that all the parties to the conflict will begin a good-faith effort to implement its provisions by the deadlines the document sets.

As we continue to emphasise, the start of direct dialogue between the sides is a key condition for a successful settlement. It is necessary to proceed from the real-life situation, and direct contacts are essential, if everyone wants to reach an agreement that establishes relations for the long term.

We believe that the sides have managed to agree on many issues, including a ceasefire starting from midnight February 15 and the withdrawal of heavy weapons. Issues are defined more clearly with respect to a long-term political settlement, the resolution of border issues by agreement with Donbass self-defence forces, humanitarian and economic issues and the release of prisoners. It will also be important to develop a range of measures for verifying and monitoring compliance with the provisions on both sides.

It is necessary to work more intensively within the Contact Group format, so that this work helps achieve practical results. We will actively assist this process. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine will have to contribute to the implementation of these agreements, primarily by helping monitor the ceasefire and the withdrawal of weapons systems.

We hope that all sides will show restraint in the near future pending a complete ceasefire. The number of casualties and displaced persons must not be allowed to grow, and conditions must be created that would rule out future attacks.

Mr Chairperson,

From the very beginning, we have opposed the punitive operation launched against the people of southeastern Ukraine by Alexander Turchinov with the support of representatives of the so-called government of Euromaidan victors, and also with foreign support. The decision to seek a military solution instead of engage in dialogue was a catastrophic mistake that has resulted in numerous violations of humanitarian law and grave crimes against the people of the regions who opposed the coup in Kiev.

We strongly condemn the bombardment, from either side, of residential areas in the cities of southeastern Ukraine and the civilian deaths it causes. In the past few days, the use of heavy weapons, artillery and even missiles, have grown more frequent to the point where it's now regular. But even against this backdrop, the firing of Tochka-U ballistic missiles on Donetsk and the shelling of Kramatorsk stand out. Yesterday, a bus terminal was shelled in Donetsk at peak hour. Six people are reported killed. Another shell hit the entryway of the Donetsk Iron & Steel Works. On February 9, Ukrainian forces directly targeted a crew of workers from the Donetsk railway with mortar fire, killing three and severely wounding two more. Last night, while the Minsk talks were in progress, cluster munitions were used on Lugansk. And a hospital in Donetsk came under fire once again.

Our Ukrainian colleagues claim that the Ukrainian armed forces do not shell Ukrainian cities because it is prohibited by standing orders. In that case, to whom was US Senator John McCain referring when he said, "I think that if we had provided them with the weapons they need, they wouldn't have felt they had to use cluster bombs." Obviously, he doesn't mean the self-defence forces.

Paramilitary volunteer forces and battalions formed by oligarchs possess extremely lethal weapons. It is a serious problem that requires urgent action. How can we guarantee that these armed groups that do not take orders from central command in Kiev will honour anything? Basically they are the illegal armed groups described in the Minsk agreements. Who can say for sure that, like all of us, they will support a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the crisis? They must be disarmed and removed from the conflict zone. Providing more weapons to these groups, especially from abroad, will have even more disastrous consequences.

Unfortunately, many of our colleagues prefer to ignore the activity of the Right Sector, the Azov battalion that uses Nazi symbols, the Aidar battalion known for looting and abuse of local residents, as well as other such groups. It is extremely dangerous to view them as "patriots" defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. These groups, along with the ultra-nationalists, have done more to damage the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and to divide Ukrainian society than anyone else. It's no secret that they eagerly recruit extremists from across Europe.

Esteemed colleagues,

It is in our mutual benefit to make it clear for everyone that the "party of war" does not have any international support. This is one of the most powerful signals from the Minsk meeting. Fuelling militarist hysteria is part of the "military path."

Ukraine is aggressively militarising. A new round of compulsory mobilisation has been announced. There have been calls to "take revenge" for the summer "military failure" and to "Ukrainianise Donbass" by force.

Mechanisms for political censorship are being created. Apparently, establishing a Ministry of Truth wasn't enough. The government passed a law that sets "general criteria for classifying audiovisual materials as damaging to Ukraine's national security." The law prohibits the screening of all Russian films. Likewise there is the total ban on accrediting Russian journalists in Ukraine. The Ukrainian journalist Kotsaba was arrested for treason for commenting on the mobilisation. Now it seems any journalist or public figure may be accused of treason for statements that don't follow the official line. Where are the responses from free press activists?

The latest example is a bill that would make it possible to lock up anyone who questions "Russia's aggression" in Donbass. Those who disagree could be sent to prison for up to three years. This gesture by the "party of war" speaks for itself.

It is clear that the crisis will continue as long as Ukrainians themselves cannot come to an agreement. It will only stop when the country puts an end to the rampant radicalism and nationalism; when society unites around positive values and Ukraine's genuine interests. For that to happen, Kiev must hear their own people, find common ground and reach an agreement with all political forces and regions. They should work out a formula for a constitutional state where all its citizens can live in safety and comfort and where human rights are fully observed.

A very important step in that direction was taken in Minsk.

Thank you.