Ukraine calls for UN Peacekeepers deployment to Donbass

Kyiv offers the UN to carry out a joint anti-terrorist operation in the East of the country.

It has been said by the chairman of the Supreme Rada, the acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov during the phone conversation with Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the press-service of the parliament informs.

During the conversation the sides discussed the situation as it has developed in Eastern Ukraine. As said by Turchynov, the situation there, and in particular in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, completely repeats the scenario used by the Russian Federation in Crimea.

“The Russian Federation dispatches special assault groups to the East of our country. They seize administrative buildings with weapon, and by their actions they put at threat hundreds thousands of our citizens,” he said explaining that the situation, adding that the situation differs from the one in Crimea as “the majority of the population does not want to support separatists.”

The head of the parliament informed that at the moment a large-scale anti-terrorist operation has been launched, in order to defend the civilians of our country.

“Ukrainian citizens ask the authorities to defend them from terrorism and armed criminals. We cannot leave our citizens on their own with armed terrorists, who threaten their lives and health and are trying to tear the country to pieces,” he said.

At the same time, Turchynov noted that the authorities are taking measures which are “to stabilize the situation in the region.” In particular the matter concerns reforming the laws, regarding decentralization of power.

“What is meant here is considerable broadening the mandate of territorial communities, forming executive organs of power by local councils, broadening material and financial independence of the regions,” the head of the parliament noted.

He stressed that the regime is ready to cooperate with representatives of the civil society from all regions of Ukraine in order to have a meaningful dialogue, “but we shall counter terrorism and aggression of Russia.”

Besides, for the world community to demonstrate legitimacy of actions of Ukrainian law-enforcers and military men during the counter-terrorism operation, Oleksandr Turchynov offered to Ban Ki-moon to carry out a joint operation with the UN peacekeepers.

“We do not deny and welcome, if a joint anti-terrorist operation would be held in the East. Then experts and observers would be able to bear witness that our actions are legitimate and appropriate,” he stressed.

In his turn, Ban Ki-moon noted that the authorities had taken steps, “which had been necessary to resolve the situation in Ukraine in general and in the East and South in particular.”