To protect Ukrainian citizens in Russia, Kiev will not sever diplomatic relations with Moscow
The director-general of the Directorate General for Policy and Communications, Oleksii Makeiev, explained that the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains diplomatic relations with Russia in order to protect Ukrainian citizens living in Russia and to free political prisoners, Ukrainian News reports.
“Diplomatic institutions and consular offices in the Russian Federation perform the most important tasks: protection of citizens, protection of political prisoners, and we are doing our best for it... We will maintain our presence there precisely because we should take care of the millions of Ukrainians who are living and working in the aggressor-country and in order to release our citizens,” Makeiev said.
He noted that consular offices in Russia receive about 100 applications from Ukrainian citizens every day.
Makeiev added that diplomats work in extremely difficult conditions because of propaganda against Ukraine; they receive threats almost every day and attacks have also taken place.
Last week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pavel Klimkin, stated that Ukraine will not sever diplomatic relations with Russia. Earlier, the Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, also stated that the rupture of diplomatic relations is not being considered.