MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Kiev is failing to take political steps in east Ukraine because of tensions it itself provokes, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) Alexander Lukashevich said Friday.
“We are forced to state that the work in most areas has stalled for now. Kiev has not taken any real steps on the political track, referring to the tension along the contact line which it itself provokes,” Lukashevich said at the OSCE Permanent Council.
He called on the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to maintain 24-hour monitoring along the Ukrainian armed forces’ arms warehouses and report on any violations to the Trilateral Contact Group.
Lukashevich additionally voiced hope that Kiev would heed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call for the sides to the conflict to establish a ceasefire coinciding with the August 5-21 Rio Olympics.
