The so-called Group of friends of Ukraine from seven well-known politicians of the European Union called to make the United States a party to the negotiations in the Normandy format (France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine).
This call is published in the electronic version of the European edition of the newspaper Political Declaration on behalf of the former Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Minister of foreign Affairs and of defence Malcolm Rifkind, the former head of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering, as well as prominent politicians of Poland, Estonia and Slovakia, reports RIA " Novosti ".
"Efforts During the" Normandy format " has led to the Minsk agreements, why was followed by a significant increase in the level of dialogue between the conflicting parties. Anyway, in terms of further positive steps to conflict resolution dialogues have to be well improved through the involvement of all relevant players, including the US ", ? reported in the paper. It is also a call for the West to consider providing Ukraine with "increased military assistance, including appropriate defense system" in case the militia will get modern weapons. For reviews of the " friends of Ukraine ", by reforming its own intelligence capabilities of Ukraine " can also help NATO to increase their strategic awareness in the black sea region ". The authors of the Declaration campaign of the European Union without delay to cancel the visa regime for citizens of Ukraine and does not extend to six months, and 12 validity of the penalties the EU against Russia, expanding the list of sanctions of Russian officials. In April the past year, the United States Ambassador to Russia John Tefft said that Obama "happily connected" to the negotiations "channel four" if he was invited. The government of Donetsk people's Republic spoke out against Obama's participation in the " Norman Quartet." Kiev said that it would welcome the accession of the United States to " Norman format ". On Tuesday, the Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Orlov said that the meeting of leaders "channel format" on Ukraine will meet in Berlin on 19 October at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "no solution to the question of Donbass, except" Normandy format ", no, Moscow would support it ", but the dialogue for the sake of talks useless. He was also called "pointless" meetings in this format after arranged by the Ukrainians attempts to commit terrorist acts in the Crimea.

sections: Politics