Contents tagged with Volker

  • Ukrainian President: Russia will be forced to consent to UN peacekeepers in Donbas

    Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is confident that Russia will be forced to support the deployment of an international UN peacekeeping contingent in the Donbas and to withdraw its own divisions from the occupied regions of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk provinces.

    “The UN peacekeepers, when they come into the Donbas, will force Russia’s occupation forces out of the Ukrainian territories, disarm the illegal armed formations, and ensure the withdrawal of the heavy weaponry and safety for the …

  • Volker: there is personal animosity between Putin and Poroshenko

    There is “personal enmity” between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, observed US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker during a video conference for European reporters.

    Volker said that officially Washington does not support any specific candidate in Ukraine’s upcoming presidential elections.

    “We advocate the principles of the simple democratic institutes, reforms to fight corruption, security, and also the restoration of the sovereignty and …

  • Volker: US could sell more Javelin anti-tank systems to Ukraine

    The US could sell Ukraine another batch of Javelin anti-tank missile systems, announced US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker during a video conference for European reporters, UNIAN reports.

    “As you know, part of this assistance consisted in providing anti-tank systems so that, if tanks proceed further into Ukraine’s territory, Ukraine has the best capabilities to protect itself,” the special representative noted.

    According to Volker, Ukraine has expressed interest in acquiring a …

  • Volker: Our perception of Russia is completely different than 5 years ago

    US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker told Voice of America in an interview that the US has already worked out a system to respond to challenges from Russia.

    Five years ago, when the “green men” captured Crimea, the West reacted too slowly, Volker admitted while speaking at an international forum in Kyiv. Today, the situation has changed, and if there is escalation, the West will not take its time.

    “We now perceive Russia completely differently to five years ago. …

  • Volker announces plans to intensify anti-Russian sanctions

    The US does not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and believes that “words are not enough”, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said on 26 February during the opening of the fifth international forum titled: “Occupation of Crimea: 5 years of opposition” in Kyiv.

    “We does not and will not accept Russia’s claimed annexation of Crimea. But words are not enough. We are very clearly and closely following the human rights situation in Crimea, and we are carefully following the …

  • Poroshenko and Volker visit US missile destroyer in Odessa

    Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker on board the missile cruiser USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), which had recently arrived at the Port of Odessa, the president’s website reported.

    Poroshenko remarked on the symbolism of the meeting taking place on board the Donald Cook, which is a frequent visitor to the Black Sea and Odessa.

    “It is a legendary ship, and it is an important signal to the Kremlin in the fifth year of …

  • Poroshenko: Russia preparing to attack Ukraine

    During debates in the UN General Assembly on “The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the environment in New York”, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that Russia is preparing for a military attack against Ukraine, and that future escalation to the level of full-scale war is no longer unrealistic, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

    “Military experts unambiguously find that the armed group on the Russian border with Ukraine is an offensive assault group. It has …

  • Kremlin: there are no prospects for normalizing relations with the US

    Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that there are no prospects for normalizing the relationship with the US for now, reports Interfax-Ukraine. 

    “In my opinion, everything is already bad. Prospects are not being considered for now,” said Ushakov responding to a question if a new series of sanctions will worsen Russian-American relations, or things can’t get worse. 

    He added that Moscow’s reaction to the possibility of new American sanctions would follow after analysis. 

    “We will …

  • Volker: Russia does not want to discuss Donbas situation during Ukrainian elections

    US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker said that Moscow is not showing any interest in arranging a meeting between Russian Presidential Aide Vladislav Surkov and himself or in taking action to resolve the conflict in the Donbas during the presidential campaign in Ukraine.

    “We are always in favor of meeting and talking. Russia is not showing any interest or progress whatsoever in this regard. In fact, they said that they don’t want to do anything during the presidential elections,”  …

  • Volker: Russia has been violating the Minsk Agreements every day for the last four years

    US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker stated on Twitter that Russia has long been violating the Minsk Agreements without cease.

    "Four years ago, Russia signed the Minsk Package of Measures with the first point being a February 14 ceasefire. About a week later Russia and its proxy forces seized Debaltseve,” Volker said. "In the four years since, Russia has continued to violate the Minsk Agreements every day.”

    On February 12, 2015, because of negotiations in Minsk, participants of …