Klimkin urges OSCE to use all levers of influence on Kremlin

"Pavlo Klimkin stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy within the OSCE and expressed gratitude to President George Tsereteli for his strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the context of Russia's ongoing armed aggression in Donbas and illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol," the statement reads.

Klimkin stressed that the restoration of peace on Ukrainian soil depends on the readiness of the Russian side to stop its aggression against Ukraine. Klimkin urged the OSCE PA to use all possible means and tools to force the Kremlin to adhere to the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and to abandon its aggressive and expansionist policy towards Ukraine.

"George Tsereteli confirmed the support of the OSCE PA for the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and assured further assistance and support for the initiatives of the Ukrainian side within the framework of the Assembly," the ministry's press service reported.

According to Tsereteli, a sign of the consolidated position of OSCE PA parliamentarians is the approval by the Assembly over the past seven years of the respective resolutions in support of Ukraine.

He stressed that during his visit to Donetsk region on May 13 he had an opportunity to assess the difficult security and humanitarian situation in Donbas and also noted the important role of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine.

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