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European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini (Reuters / Ints Kalnins) |
The EU is resisting calls from hotheads to supply arms to Ukraine,
saying it won’t be pulled into a confrontation with Russia. Europeans
cite the progress in implementing a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine between
Kiev and local rebels.
The idea of providing
lethal aid to Kiev is popular among many NATO officials and
American politicians. US House Speaker John Boehner and a
bipartisan group of top lawmakers called on President Barack
Obama to deliver the weapons. But Europeans are opposing the
move, which would likely escalate tensions with Russia.
“The European Union today is extremely realistic about
developments in Russia. But we will never be trapped or forced or
pushed or pulled into a confrontative [sic] attitude,” the
EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini told the media on
Friday, following an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in
Riga, Latvia.
“We still believe that around our continent – not only in but
around – cooperation is far better than confrontation. We still
argue for that,” she added.
Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said the EU’s goal in
Ukraine is “a ceasefire, not an escalation.”
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NATO is using Ukraine crisis to advance towards Russian borders - Defense Ministry |
Germany has been among the most vocal critics of sending arms to
Ukraine and now German officials question the assessment of the
situation in the country voiced by Kiev armament pundits.
“The statements [on Ukraine] from our source do not fully
coincide with the statements made by NATO and the US,”
German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after the conference.
“We are interested in not allowing it to grow into a
misunderstanding.”
The German Spiegel magazine reported on Saturday that Chancellor
Angela Merkel’s government suspects the US and NATO of trying to
derail the EU’s mediation effort in Ukraine.
The Minsk ceasefire agreement between Kiev and rebels in eastern
Ukraine was brokered last month by Germany, France and Russia. So
far, it’s mostly holding, with both parties pulling some of their
heavy weapons back from the front line, and OSCE monitors
reporting a significant reduction in violence.
READ MORE: Moscow, Paris, Berlin want more OSCE observers in
E.Ukraine - Russia's rep
The EU says it wants to increase the number of OSCE observers on
the ground, doubling its current ceiling of 500.
"The main point is obviously working to increase the number
of selected and skilled people that can do the job,"
Mogherini said. The more observers the tougher it would be to
violate the conditions of the Minsk agreement with impunity.
Kiev and its foreign backers, particularly in Washington, accuse
Russia of propping up the rebel forces with weapons and troops.
Moscow insists that it has no involvement in the armed conflict
and has only delivered humanitarian aid to the ravaged areas.*
Source: RT
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