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Andrii Deshchytsia: Russia has serious intensions, situation cannot be solved through talks

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Andrii Deshchytsia: Russia has serious intensions, situation cannot be solved through talks

The absence of a stronger rebuff to the Kremlin will give Putin a free hand.

Warsaw hosts the X PAUCI Eastern Policy Forum “Transatlantic Community versus Eurasia - Arising Challenges and New Opportunities”. Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Andrii Deshchytsia spoke about the reaction of the western world to the aggression against Crimea and consequences of the aggression, which turned into a real war in eastern Ukraine, a charter97.org correspondent reports.

“The events in Crimea shocked all of us. We couldn't imagine that our neighbour could react with a military incursion to the change of power in our country in the 21st century. It's not only we who were shocked. It also was a shock for the West and the US. No one was ready to give Ukraine advice how to react to this aggression. The EU changed its behaviour and foreign policy only when it became clear that Russia has serious intentions to move further. No one knows where it will stop!

I hope these changes in the mind of the EU leaders will really lead to a firm understanding that we need both to take diplomatic measures and impose sanctions not only to stop Russia but also to make it retreat and return Crimea. We are getting used to the fact that Crimea is a part of Russia, because it was seized and no one said a word against. It is very important to impose stronger sanctions, because Russia violated all international laws and principles, otherwise we will give Russia a free hand and it will do whatever it wants.

Of course, we want the conflict to be solved peacefully, but I think talks cannot help here. We need to view all opportunities: arms deliveries, if necessary, as well as diplomatic pressure and strengthening sanctions. We want it to happen as soon as possible, but we rely on ourselves above all. I think, however, that it is a duty of all those standing for peace on the European continent. We won't be able to win without this understanding,” he said.

Andrii Deshchytsia is a Ukrainian diplomat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Poland, acting foreign minister of Ukraine from February 27 to June 2014. He served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Finland and Iceland. He was a senior coordinator of the PAUCI (the Polish-Ukrainian-American Cooperation Initiative) in 1999-2001 and the OSCE Chair's Special Representative for conflicts in January-December 2013.

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