30 May 2016, 11:33
It was emphasized by a co-chairman of the inter-parliamentary friendship group Ukraine-Italy Serhii Alekseev during a meeting with members of the Italian national delegation to the OSCE PA and its leader P.Romani in Rome, where he stayed with other Ukrainian parliamentarians.
"Full ceasefire – that is what is needed for the elections in Donbas. The relevant legislative process has been already launched. But the fire has not been ceased and the Minsk agreements are not met. First, the fire must be stopped, and then to decide the issue of elections, so first the fire must be stopped, then - elections in the territories, which are under the fire, "- he said.
As it was noted by members of the Ukrainian delegation: in order to quickly establish peace in Donbas sanctions against Russian Federation should be extended. According to Ukrainian politicians, sanctions are the only diplomatic tools that can “hold back” Russia's aggression. As an example of the effectiveness of such tactics, they cited the situation around Iran, where thanks to a consolidated global position and harsh penalties the authorities of the country refused from nuclear program.
"Maybe not everyone in Ukraine likes the Minsk agreements, but we have to follow them in order to achieve finally peace in Donbas. On the party of our international partners we expect a coordinated position and the continuation of sanctions that currently are the only effective diplomatic tools, "- said Serhii Alekseev.
A similar position was expressed by deputies of Ukraine during the joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Italian Chamber of Deputies.