The European Union has noted Ukraine's right to defend its territorial integrity, but urged the Ukrainian authorities to do so in keeping with the spirit of the Geneva agreements. The spokesman for European diplomacy chief Catherine Ashton, Michael Mann, said this in Brussels on April 23 when commenting on the recent statement by Acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov about the continuation of anti-terrorist operations.
Having noted that Ukraine has the right to defend its the territorial integrity and sovereignty, the EC representative said that Brussels also urges the authorities to refrain from the use of force, which may further worsen the situation on the ground. Mann expressed the confidence that the Ukrainian leadership will continue to implement the agreements reached in Geneva, and urge all the four parties, including Russia, to do the same.
As reported, on April 22, Turchynov instructed the security forces to continue counter-terrorism actions in the country’s east.
“I demand that security task forces resume and carry fruitful counter-terrorism actions meant for protection of Ukrainian citizens, who live in the east of Ukraine, against the terrorists,” reads a statement from Turchynov posted on the parliamentary Web site.
