Russia hinders conflict resolution in Donbas — Estonian foreign minister

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said this in a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, DELFI reports.

“President Putin’s decision to simplify the procedure for granting Russian citizenship to residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas is deeply regrettable. By one more destabilizing step, Russia is hindering the resolution of the conflict,” he said.

According to Reinsalu, Estonia firmly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and Estonia will continue to maintain this position.

Reinsalu also assured Klimkin that Estonia still supported Ukraine in its commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration, including the implementation of reforms.

In turn, Klimkin congratulated the new Estonian government on assuming office.

As Ukrinform reported, on April 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that allows residents of the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine to obtain Russian passports under a simplified procedure.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned this decision by the Kremlin.

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