Volker: Russian aggression in Ukraine is a risk for all Europe
Russian aggression in Ukraine is a risk for all of Europe, said US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker during a press conference in Vilnius.
"We are gathered here while the fighting continues on the European continent, from here [to Donbas], which is less than two hours away by plane. This should not have happened at all, and now we must do everything to stop human suffering, as about 10,000 people have already died in the conflict, and millions have been forced to leave their homes. This is a challenge not only for Ukraine; it is a risk for all of Europe," Volker said.
As was reported earlier, Volker held a meeting with Russian Presidential Aide Surkov on August 21 in Minsk. As a result of the meeting, Surkov said that Volker offered "fresh ideas and innovative approaches to their implementation" within the framework of the Minsk process. According to the US State Department, Volker is coming to Kyiv on August 23, where he will " join Secretary of Defense James Mattis in meetings with senior Ukrainian government officials to discuss next steps in diplomatic negotiations to restore Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Former US Ambassador to NATO Volker was appointed on July 7 as Special Representative, who oversees the conduct of negotiations on the situation in Ukraine.