Ukraine insists that the OSCE mission at the Russian checkpoints Hukove and Donetsk on the border continue to work even after July 31, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.
“Ukraine insists that the mission in Hukove and Donetsk should continue its work after July 31. Blackmail and disregard on the part of Russia for the OSCE can only be stopped by the principled position and actions of this organization, and Ukraine will always stand on the side of the OSCE in this struggle,” Kuleba said at a joint press conference with the current head of the OSCE, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde in Kyiv on June 14.
He stressed that Russia consistently neglects the OSCE. According to the minister, Moscow refused to explain the buildup of its troops under the Vienna Document, and this is an obligation of the parties to this document, while Moscow undermines confidence by withdrawing from the open skies treaty. In May Russia forced the OSCE to reduce the duration of the OSCE mission’s mandate at the Russian checkpoints Hukove and Donetsk on the border with Ukraine and now threatens to completely close these missions.
“The purpose of these efforts is obvious to everyone – Russia does not want independent OSCE observers to see at least anything of the military efforts that Russia is resorting to along the Ukrainian-Russian border,” Kuleba said
