The President of the European Parliament (EP), Martin Schulz, sees no way to resolve the crisis in eastern Ukraine other than politically and with Russia's involvement.
“Therefore, all parties and international community must do everything to prevent the situation getting fully out of control. There is only one solution, the political one … The political solution can only be found together with the Russian Federation,” he told Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada on July 3.
In this context, Schulz stressed the importance of talks with Russia. “We have no choice. We need to hold talks with Russia, while making it clear that we will not renounce our principles and there will be no return to the cooperation as usual, unless the Minsk agreements get fully implemented,” he said.
Schulz stressed the need to refrain from war and stop inciting nationalist sentiment among Ukrainian combatants.
“We need to face the facts: there is not military solution to this conflict. All parties are well aware that they need to protect themselves, exercise restraint and refrain from war and nationalist rhetoric,” the EP president said.
History taught us that more often than not incitement can lead to sentiments getting out of control, he said.
