The meeting with Lavrov is over.
"It is not up to us to make any decision or agreement regarding
federalization. It is up to Ukrainians."
Kerry
Kerry also stressed that Ukraine would have to be at the table for
negotiations. And he said the Russian troop buildup along the border is
creating a climate of fear and intimidation in Ukraine.
"The question is not one of right or legality, the question is
one of strategic appropriateness and whether it's smart at this moment of
time to have troops massed on the border."
On Sun, 30 Mar 2014, Francine Ponomarenko wrote:
> Note the Russian threat: Lavrov says if their demands are not met, they have
> the right " to take appropriate action."So do as we say, and shut up. And�we
> will continue inside Ukraine with our fifth column anyhow, goes without
> saying.�
>
> And the Muscovites� will work from inside to break Ukraine apart, while the
> west will wring its hands, and business as usual.�
>
>
>
> On Sunday, 30 March 2014, Ivan Kravchenko <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> The Kerry-Lavrov meeting in Paris has been �under way for more
> than 5 hours already. Will fate of Ukraine be decided by someone
> else again?
>
> http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/30/russia-ukraine-john-kerry-serg
> ei-lavrov-paris
>
> "Frankly speaking, we don't see any other way for the steady
> development of the Ukrainian state apart from as a federation,"
> he added. Under the Russian plan, which Barack Obama and
> Vladimir Putin reportedly discussed in a phone call initiated by
> Moscow on Friday, each region would have control of its economy,
> taxes, culture, language, education and "external economic and
> cultural connections with neighbouring countries or regions,"
> Lavrov said.
>
> Lavrov made no mention of the Ukraine elections or any possible
> withdrawal from Crimea. Many analysts now predict that in any
> deal, the US and its western allies, and thus Kiev, will be
> forced to accept the annexation as a fait accompli
>
> The Obama administration has insisted Russia withdraw its forces
> from Crimea, reduce its military build-up on the eastern border,
> respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine and support
> national polls due in May to elect a new president and
> government.
>
> The Russian proposal to radically alter the way Ukraine is
> governed and administered is certain to arouse strong opposition
> in Kiev, where it will be viewed by critics of Moscow's
> intervention in Crimea as a roundabout way of breaking up or
> partitioning the country.
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Apr 01 2014 - 00:59:49 EST