John Kerry: Ukraine's territorial integrity must be restored

Описание: US Secretary of State John Kerry calls on Russia to send its troops back to their bases and respect international observers after a UN special envoy was besieged inside a cafe in Crimea region by a hostile crowd

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that Washington had renewed its call for Russia to speak directly with Ukraine, and to send its troops back to their bases.

Mr Kerry, speaking in Paris, also said it was important to ensure the safety of international observers and human rights monitors.

"Russia can now choose to de-escalate this situation, and we are committed to working with Russia, and together with our friends and allies, in an effort to provide a way for this entire situation to find the road to de-escalation," he said.

Mr Kerry's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov - which included an apparently informal coffee break in the gardens of the Elysee Palace - came on a whirlwind day of diplomatic discussions to try to reach a solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

The EU prepared a £9bn aid package for Ukraine, and European and Ukrainian diplomats outlined ways all sides could step back from the brink of a new global conflict.

A special UN envoy cut short his mission in Crimea on Wednesday after being threatened by 10 to 15 armed men and ordered to leave the region, where Ukraine and Russia are locked in a tense standoff, UN officials said.

After a confrontation at a cafe, envoy Robert Serry was driven to Simferopol airport by the men and was flying to Kiev, Ukraine's capital, where he will continue his fact-finding mission, the officials said.

"We renew our call for Russia to speak directly with the government of Ukraine, to send troops back to their bases and to welcome international observers and human rights monitors, and we have seen today with what happened with special envoy Serry just how important it is to ensure the safety of those monitors and those observers.
Ukraine's territorial integrity must be restored and must be respected," said Mr Kerry.


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