Ukraine will preserve its territory and protect its independence. This was announced by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov at the briefing on Friday.
He claimed that the Russian Federation “has initiated overt aggression against our country.” “Under cover of Russian military training, they have brought troops to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. They have not only seized buildings of the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers, they are trying to take control over civil objects and communications, they are trying to block places of location of Ukrainian military men,” he said.
“They instigate us to a military conflict. In the words of our intelligence, they are working according to the scenario equivalent to the Abkhazian one, when by having provoked a conflict, they started annexation of territory,” claimed the Chairman of the Parliament.
He stressed that Ukrainian military men fulfill their obligations, they remain unprovoked, they do not react to the conflict, understanding the great danger the civil population of Crimea is exposed to.
“I personally address President Putin with a demand to immediately stop provocations and withdraw military men from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and demand to work solely within the terms of signed agreements,” claimed Oleksandr Turchynov. “I remind President Putin that the Russian Federation together with the USA and the Great Britain is a guarantor of territorial integrity of Ukraine. This Memorandum was signed in 1994 when Ukraine unilaterally renounced nuclear weapons.”
Oleksandr Turchynov informed that according to the address of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and his personal address, the UN Security Council meeting is being held now, adding that “the whole world supports Ukraine.”
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada also claimed that the National Security and Defence Council elaborated a plan on normalization of the situation on the Crimean peninsula.
“We demand to stop this provocation, we demand to normalize the situation. We are sure that Ukraine will preserve its territory, Ukraine will protect its independence and any attempts of annexation or intervention will have very serious consequences,” claimed Oleksandr Turchynov.
The Chairman of the Parliament expressed gratitude to Ukrainian military men who are now in Crimea: “I support them and thank them that they honorably fulfill their obligations.”
Oleksandr Turchynov also calmed down civil population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea “that does not support separatist slogans of provocateurs and recruited agents.” “Situation on the peninsula should be normalized soon.”