Borrell: EU does not believe the statements of the leaders of the DPR and LPR about the preparation of the Ukrainian offensive He condemned the use of heavy weapons in the region and welcomed the “restrained position of Ukraine” ” alt=”The EU did not believe the statements of the leaders of the DPR and LPR about an imminent attack on Ukraine” />
The European Union does not believe the warnings of the authorities of the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR about the preparation of an offensive against the republics by Ukraine. This is stated in a statement by the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
“The EU sees no basis for accusations coming from non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions about a possible attack by Ukraine. The EU calls on Russia for constructive dialogue, diplomacy, restraint and de-escalation,— he pointed out.
The head of EU diplomacy also condemned the use of heavy weapons and indiscriminate shelling of residential areas. According to him, all this is a clear violation of the Minsk agreements and international humanitarian law. “We welcome the restrained position of Ukraine in the face of ongoing provocations and efforts to destabilize the situation,” — he added.
In addition, Borrell supported the proposal to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbass.
Another aggravation of the situation in eastern Ukraine has been going on since February 17, when the self-proclaimed republics and the Armed Forces of Ukraine accused each other of massive violations of the ceasefire.
The next day, the heads of the DPR and LPR, Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, said that the threat of an attack by the Ukrainian army was growing and began evacuating residents to Russian territory. Against this background, a series of explosions occurred in the republic, including on a gas pipeline in the Luhansk region. Later, the authorities also announced military mobilization.
On the same day, Kiev announced that they were not planning an offensive in the Donbass. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny noted that the authorities of the DPR and LPR are using residents to escalate, “to unleash another bloodshed.”
A day later, US President Joe Biden said that an attack by Russian troops on Ukraine could happen ” ;in the coming weeks» and even “in the coming days.” Previously, Biden also claimed that he had information that Moscow was going to conduct a military operation “under a false flag.”
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any military plans for Ukraine, and the words of the US President were called another escalation situations. As the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov noted, the situation in the Donbass is alarming. In turn, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia does not want a new war in Europe.
Subscribe to VK RBC Get news faster than anyone else