Statement by Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on the situation in Ukraine and the need to implement the Minsk accords, Vienna, March 23, 2017
(World News Russia)

Mr President, The situation in Ukraine continues to worsen, and the government is increasingly losing control over the situation and is losing ground to the radicals. The Ukrainian military are shelling Donbass towns and villages. Banks with Russian capital, which account for about 15 percent of Ukraine`s banking system, have been vandalised. The Verkhovna Rada is preparing draft laws that infringe upon the freedom of speech and the rights of the Russian-speaking population and ethnic minorities in the country. The trade blockade with regard to Donbass initiated by the `activists` has been formalised by the government. The situation on the contact line threatens to evolve into another round...