Ukraine: Time for diplomacy between Kiev and Moscow, Spanish FM says

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Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez said diplomatic efforts are key to easing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, speaking in Kiev on Wednesday at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitri Kuleba.

“De-escalation is necessary at this time, and that is the path we are opting for, we believe that this is the time for diplomacy and not for opening scenarios and hypotheses that are not there,” the Spanish diplomat said.

Albarez added that an important part of the meeting was the discussion of tensions around Ukraine.

“I have reiterated to Minister Kuleba that Spain supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” he said.

The politician also said Madrid is “very concerned about the concentration of Russian troops in the immediate vicinity of the Ukrainian border.”

Ukraine’s Kuleba in his part stressed that there is every chance for a peaceful settlement of the crisis and the sanctions developed by the European Union are “a part of diplomacy.”

“The position of Ukraine is that in recent years Russia has grossly violated international norms of international law and the Minsk agreements. For this they should be punished with sanctions. For example, the mass issuance of passports to citizens of Ukraine who live in certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions is a clear and gross violation of the logic of the Minsk agreements,” Kuleba said.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, José Manuel Albarez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain (Spanish): “Evidently the tense situation that is taking place these days around Ukraine has already occupied a good part of our conversation and in this sense, I have reiterated to Minister Kuleba that Spain supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a position that I had the opportunity to express a few days ago also in the Spanish Congress of Deputies.”

SOT, Jose Manuel Albarez, Spanish Foreign Minister (Spanish): “We remain obviously concerned about the deployment of Russian troops a few kilometers from the borders with Ukraine but we are convinced that this situation must be addressed and can be redirected through dialogue and that is why we work with our partners to support these diplomatic efforts in the European Union, in NATO and in the OSCE.”

SOT, Jose Manuel Albarez, Spanish Foreign Minister (Spanish): “Spain’s position, and the position of the European Union as expressed in the conclusions of the last Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers, is clear: we are working for a scenario in which any differences that may exist are resolved through dialogue, a dialogue that leads to distinction, and for that to happen, a de-escalation is necessary at this time, and that is the path we are opting for, we believe that this is the time for diplomacy and not for opening scenarios and hypotheses that are not there, and of course, there is also a scenario of deterrence in which the European Union, and Spain, as a supportive member, has clearly adopted a package of economic measures that will be massive, but this is the time for diplomacy and the time for dialogue, and we believe that all the conditions are in place for this to be the way to resolve this crisis”.

SOT, Dmitri Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Ukrainian): “I want to confirm Jose Manuel’s words that there are now chances for a peaceful settlement of the crisis. These sanctions, which were developed by the European Union, are part of diplomacy. These sanctions were designed in such a way that they could be applied immediately in the event of a military escalation, Russian military aggression against Ukraine. The position of Ukraine is that in recent years Russia has grossly violated international norms of international law and the Minsk agreements. For this, they should be punished with sanctions. For example, the mass issuance of passports to citizens of Ukraine who live in certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions is a clear and gross violation of the logic of the Minsk agreements. At least for this, sanctions can be imposed earlier, and right now in order to demonstrate the seriousness of intentions and readiness for decisive action.”

Video ID: 20220209-014

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