U.S. calls on Russia to show political will in peace talks with Ukraine

The United States expects Russia to show political to bring about a peaceful resolution to the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, according to Elisabeth Rosenstock-Siller, Acting Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE.

She said this at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on October 7, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Progress depends on Russia's political will, which we hope we begin to see. The additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire have saved lives, reduced human suffering, and demonstrated progress was possible. We call on Russia to demonstrate such political will again. While we all deeply desire a Russia that participates meaningfully in peace negotiations, at a bare minimum, Russia and the forces it funds, equips, trains, and leads need to abstain from violence in the meantime," she said.

Addressing Mikko Kinnunen, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, and Halit Cevik, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Rosenstock-Siller thanked them for their "tireless efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict instigated and led by Russia in eastern Ukraine."

"We all depend on the SMM and its dedicated monitors to deliver the impartial reports, which provide an accurate view of the situation on the ground. Their unbiased nature allows readers to make their own conclusions based on facts. And the facts demonstrate Russia's aggression is the driver of this conflict," the diplomat said.

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