Sobotka: Issues of Crimea and Donbas must be settled by peaceful means only

"Austria has consistently advocated that all the problems, in particular in eastern Ukraine, must be settled by peaceful means as the negotiations is the only way. [These problems] cannot be settled by military means. If the military force is used, the civilian population will suffer first and foremost. We, on the part of the European Union, believe that such developments should be prevented and the issues of Donbas and Crimea must be settled only by means of negotiations,” President of the National Council of Austria Wolfgang Sobotka said at a joint briefing with Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy in Kyiv on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

Sobotka added that his visit to Ukraine and meeting with Parubiy would further contribute to the development of such a dialogue and the strengthening of relations between Ukraine and Austria.

As reported, President of the National Council (lower chamber of the Parliament) of Austria Wolfgang Sobotka makes an official visit to Ukraine on January 14-16.