Ukrainian Foreign Ministry: Russia is the only country blocking expansion of OSCE SMM’s mandate

Russia is the only country which blocks expansion of the OSCE SMM’s mandate.

Spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Mariana Betsa said this at today’s press conference, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"It should be noted that another example of non-compliance with the Minsk agreements is blocking the OSCE’s proposal to expand the mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission for the entire uncontrolled section of the Russian-Ukrainian border, and thus prevent further escalation. Russia is the only country from among 57 states which blocks the expansion of the mission’s mandate," Betsa said.

She is convinced that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission is an essential condition for a successful peace process. "Outright Russia’s resistance to this important security element is its purposeful opposition to the peace process. The large-scale presence of the international observers will not allow Russia to supply weapons, troops and mercenaries across the border," the Spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted.

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