The Lithuanian foreign minister stressed that the events of recent days did not show any positive trends in Ukraine, the Russian side had made no visible practical effort to de-escalate the conflict; moreover, Russia continued to stir unrest in eastern Ukraine.
The Foreign Ministers and the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Swiss Foreign Minister and President of the Confederation Didier Burkhalter discussed possible solution in Ukraine, the importance of coordination of international efforts, involving all interested parties.
"Any process of negotiation with a view to resolving the situation should be fully in line with the Ukrainian Government and must foresee commitments for the Russian side. Only Ukraine itself has the right to decide on the Constitution of Ukraine and its relations with the EU and NATO," the Lithuanian foreign minister said.
According to the foreign minister, Lithuania appreciates efforts of the Government of Ukraine, as the law on amnesty exempting from criminal liability those who were causing unrest has been recently drafted, a discussion on political decentralization has been launched, a concept of local self-government has been newly adopted, a national dialogue has been initiated, barricades in the centre of Kyiv are being removed and the administration building in Kyiv is cleared of protesters. The Lithuanian foreign minister believes that the next crucial stage for Ukraine is a transparent presidential election on 25 May, which will meet generally accepted international standards.
The Council adopted conclusions, stressing that the EU would not recognise any illegitimate and illegal "referenda", held on 11 May in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The EU calls on Russia to pull back its troops from the Ukrainian border and to immediately withdraw the mandate of the Federation Council to use force on Ukrainian soil. The EU condemned visits of Russian high officials engaged in supporting illegal attempts at separatism and thus contributing to heightening tensions in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries. The Foreign Affairs Council has also agreed on the expansion of the OSCE monitoring mission to 500 people.
