Putin: Ukraine is unwilling to implement the Minsk Agreements
Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with the members of the Security Council in the Crimea, accused Ukraine of its "unwillingness or inability" to implement the Minsk Agreements regarding the settlement of the conflict in the Donbas. According to him, this explains Ukraine’s "provocative acts" in the Crimea.
At the same time Putin expressed hope that this is not Ukraine’s "final choice" and that "common sense will prevail."
Putin also stated that Moscow is not going to sever diplomatic relations with Kyiv and is ready to "create opportunities for their development."
Relations between Russia and Ukraine worsened after August 10th when the Federal Security Service of Russia stated that they prevented terrorist acts in the Crimea which were allegedly organized by Ukrainian intelligence. Kyiv denied all accusations, stating that the accusations were provocations by the Russian Security Forces. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko tasked the army with strengthening combat readiness on the border with the annexed peninsula.
At the same time Pavel Klimkin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, stated that although Ukraine accuses Russia of the occupation and annexation of the Crimea and of providing military assistance to separatists in the Donbas, do not intended to sever diplomatic relations with Moscow.