MOSCOW, May 6 (RIA Novosti) – A senior Russian diplomat has called on UN officials to be as impartial as possible while assessing the ongoing events in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
During his meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov called on UN Secretariat officials “to be as impartial and objective as possible in their assessment of the situation” in Ukraine.
“The sides confirmed that only a truly comprehensive inter-Ukrainian dialog may de-escalate the crisis,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the results of the meeting.
Ukraine, which underwent a regime change of February 22, has descended into a violent civil conflict as eastern and southeastern regions with predominantly Russian-speaking population have refused to recognize the new coup-imposed authorities, who have adopted belligerent nationalist rhetoric.
A number of eastern cities have rallied in support of broader autonomy for their regions and against Kiev-appointed governors since late March. With no concessions in sight, the unrest evolved into a broader anti-government movement whose members sought Crimea-style referendums on seceding from Ukraine.
The coup-installed government in Kiev has launched a special operation to crack down on the protest in mid-April, which has since left dozens of protesters and civilians dead and injured.
Russia repeatedly condemned Kiev’s military operation against the restive regions and urged an immediate withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, as well as the start of all-inclusive national dialogue to de-escalate the situation in the crisis-hit country.
