Brussels - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton has called on the Russian authorities to start a dialogue with the Ukrainian leadership to de-escalate the situation in the country.
“I call upon Russia yet again to meet with Ukrainian leaders to start a dialogue with them and to try a move to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We see no evidence of that,” she said before a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which will be held in Brussels on March 17.
Ashton said that the discussion of the situation would continue at today’s meeting.
“We will talk about the situation in Ukraine and look at the result of the so-called referendum. I don’t have to remind you that it is illegal and unconstitutional and contrary to international law. We are also looking what we should further do in this question ahead of the EU summit,” she said.
However, Ashton declined to comment on possible sanctions against Russia, saying that it was necessary to wait.
“You can’t sit back and look at this situation. We have to think very carefully what our response should be,” she said.
“We also trying to send a strong signal to Russia to ensure that they understand not only the seriousness of the situation, but also a signal that there needs to be dialogue and way through this, which can actually lead to territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as good and strong relations with Russia,” she said.
