You're reading: EU supports swift convening of next ministerial meeting on Ukraine in Geneva format

 The Ministers of the Council of the European Union support a swift convening of a next meeting on Ukraine at ministerial level in the Geneva format, the Council said in conclusions on Ukraine adopted on May 12. "The EU reconfirms its full commitment to the Geneva Joint Statement of April 17 on initial concrete steps to de-escalate tensions and restore security for all citizens, and calls on all parties involved in the Geneva meeting of April 17 to fully implement it," the conclusions read. "The Council lends its support to a swift convening of a next meeting at ministerial level in the Geneva format in order to ensure full implementation of the Statement with the assistance of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)," the conclusions read.

 “The Council lends its support to a swift convening of a next meeting at ministerial level in the Geneva format in order to ensure full implementation of the Statement with the assistance of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE),” the conclusions read.

The April 17 meeting in Geneva was attended by representatives of Russia, the United States, the EU, and Ukraine.

The conclusions say that the Council condemns any attempt to circumvent the sanctions regime and calls upon all sides for restraint and for an end to violence and provocations.

The EU encourages the Ukrainian authorities to maintain their measured approach in pursuing law and order operations and calls on all sides to the conflict to contribute further to reducing tensions. “The EU will not recognise yesterday’s nor any future illegitimate and illegal ‘referenda,'” the conclusions read.

“The European Union stands firm in upholding Ukraine’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and calls upon Russia to do likewise. The EU is alarmed by the continued efforts by pro-Russian separatists to destabilize Eastern and Southern Ukraine. Continued seizure of public buildings, kidnappings, killings and violation of media freedom by illegal armed groups is unacceptable and must stop,” the conclusions read.

The EU insists that the tragic events in Odesa of May 2 with many dead and injured must be thoroughly investigated and all those responsible brought to justice. The Council encourages the coverage of this investigation by the Council of Europe’s International Advisory Panel as a way to ensure its independence and transparency.

What is more, the EU strongly supports the holding of free and fair Ukrainian presidential elections on May 25, and calls on all parties to do so, in order to overcome the crisis and allow the Ukrainian people to choose their own future. “The Council takes note of the recent declarations from the President of the Russian Federation regarding the presidential elections in Ukraine and expects support for the holding of these elections on May 25, 2014,” the conclusions read.

The Council also says it encourages the continuation of efforts by the Ukrainian authorities to reach out to all regions of Ukraine within the framework of the envisaged national dialogue proposed by the Ukrainian government, including the government’s steps towards inclusive all-Ukrainian dialogue on the constitutional reform process.