РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Oleksandr Turchynov: The sanctions against Russia cannot be suspended, - only now they started to give result

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov held a meeting with Chairman of the Subcommittee on Security of the European Parliament Anna Elzhbieta Fotyga and the MEPs.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed the situation in the East of Ukraine and the Russian aggression against our state.

According to Mr. Turchynov, every day, Russia deliberately violates the Minsk agreements. "Only over the last day, two soldiers were killed and five injured", - he said adding that the Ukrainian positions are shelled with heavy weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements: "Our positions are fired with 152-mm howitzers and 120-mm mortars etc."

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine stressed that while the Russian-terrorist groupings do not stop shellings, "any Russia's speculations around the Minsk have no sense, and Putin's claims concerning the desire of peaceful settlement - are cynicism and disinformation". "Under fire, constant attempts to break through our defense line and change the configuration of the delimitation line are made", - he noticed adding that all these attempts meet with an adamant rebuff from the Ukrainian armed forces.

Moreover, Oleksandr Turchynov noted that an active militarization of the occupied Crimea is conducted: "Offensive weapons, including those capable of carrying nuclear potential, are placed there. A similar scenario is being unfolded in the Kaliningrad region of the Baltics."

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine added that Russia's actions in the Crimea, military build-up in the Kaliningrad region, creating powerful military bases in the Mediterranean basin in the Syrian territory "indicate the active militaristic position of Russia who does not conceal its aggressive intentions".

According to Mr. Turchynov, the sanctions imposed several years ago, "only now started to give results": "That is why to speak about reducing or easing the sanctions today would mean to break the united front that emerged in Europe against the aggressor - Russia".

"On the contrary, - he added, - we should start increasing the sanctions to achieve a specific result - the liberation of the occupied territories, the cessation of aggressive military operations of the Russian Federation, and the halt of the arms race carried out by Russia".

In summary, Mr. Turchynov emphasized that for Ukraine there is no alternative to European and Euro-Atlantic integration: "Despite the continued aggression against our nation and the economic difficulties, we continue to steadily move in this direction".

In her turn, Ms. Fotyga stressed the support by the European Union of reforms and Ukraine's European-integration course as well as the understanding of the need for prolongation of the sanctions against the Russian Federation.

The European MPs expressed their hope that "visa liberalization with Europe for Ukraine will be carried out in the nearest future", and that the Association Agreement will be ratified by all the EU member states.