Ihor Porkopchuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the international organizations in Vienna, stated that the Russian delegation was in isolation at the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, as Ukrinform reported.
“Ukraine has introduced an item to the agenda of the meeting called “Another act of Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.” All the delegations delivered speeches on this issue. Russia has introduced its own issue and made a statement on it. Russia was completely isolated. None of the delegations of 57 OSCE member states found readiness to associate with this position, which Russia presented,” Prokopchuk said.
He added that at the meeting, the participants made a clear demand to Russia – to immediately and unconditionally return all the captured sailors and vessels of Ukraine.
“There was a position, that Russia has to provide a free navigation via Kerch Strait so that the Ukrainian ships and other could cruise along the Ukrainian ports located in Azov Sea unimpeded,” Prokopchuk said.
He noted that the current discussion showed that “in fact, the Russian side has no real arguments.” In particular, Russian Representative to OSCE attributed “preparation of provocations with the use of chemical weapons in Donbas” to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Besides, the UN Security Council blocked Russia’s initiative to consider alleged “violation of its borders.”
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