Saturday, August 09, 2014

Seeds of Merkel-led de-escalation plan?

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko had a phone conversation with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. [Saturday night]

The President drew attention to the efforts of the Ukrainian government to establish humanitarian assistance in the cities affected by the actions of terrorists. In particular, about sending to Lugansk professionals to repair electrical substations and restore water and food supply.

Petro Poroshenko informed that after the talks with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer and other international partners, the possibility of sending a humanitarian mission to Lugansk is considered: "We are ready to receive humanitarian assistance, but it will be an international mission, without military escort, which goes only through border crossing points controlled by Ukrainian border guards and accompanied by Ukrainian military for the security of the mission", stressed the President.

Angela Merkel said that Germany, as well as its allies, holds a clear position that any humanitarian mission should be sent only in accordance with the international law, namely only through the channels of the UN or the Red Cross, and only in consultation with the Ukrainian side. "Our position is clear - any invasion, even if it is called humanitarian, is an invasion, and it is a red line that no state may cross", said the Chancellor of Germany.


Angela Merkel and Petro Poroshenko discussed the possibility of participation of Germany in international humanitarian mission. They also coordinated the next steps for de-escalation of the situation in the counter-terrorist operation.


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