Klimkin: Ukraine will submit a draft resolution on peacekeepers in the Donbas, agreed with foreign partners
Ukraine will propose a draft resolution on the peacekeeping mission in the Donbas to the UN Security Council, after it coordinates the position with foreign partners, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said.
"Nothing has begun regarding the Russian resolution, except for very formal consultations, and even then, only one round was held just to react. We will not take the bait. First, [we propose] the joint position with the "big seven", with the EU. China is also important… Only then will we move forward with our resolution," he said on the Freedom of Speech program on channel ICTV on Monday evening.
"But it will be a joint [resolution], not just our resolution," the minister added. Answering questions, Klimkin clarified that Ukraine has a draft resolution and it is coordinated with the friends of Ukraine.
"We will present it at the very moment when we have a common position not only with our friends, but with all the major players, and when we are 100% ready, Russia would not be able to start the game as it always does, to create conditions for the weakening the mandate of the mission," the diplomat explained.
In addition, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister noted that the first resolution to be approved by the UN Security Council will be technical and will not provide for the mandate of the entire mission.
"After this resolution or in parallel with it... the UN Secretary General will send a mission to understand what means and forces are really needed, both regarding the time frame and the organization of the process," the minister said.
He recalled that Ukraine had submitted its proposals in early 2015.
"What is the trick now? If we had introduced any draft resolution, even the best one, I stress that even if it didn’t concern a mandate, but was a technical resolution, Russia would start playing the game immediately, either by itself or with the help of its friends, trying to somehow bring them closer," Klimkin said.
He emphasized that the Russian Federation used this tactic to try to put forward its conditions for the introduction of a peacekeeping mission, which are unacceptable to Ukraine.