MOSCOW, July 1 (RIA Novosti) – Moscow is concerned by Kiev’s decision to reject a four-party declaration on the deployment of observers to the Russian-Ukrainian border, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
The document endorses Russia’s initiative to deploy OSCE monitors and Ukrainian border guard representatives at three crossing points on the border between Russia and Ukraine. The declaration was agreed by top diplomats from Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine during a phone conversation late on Monday.
“The Ukrainian side refused to publish the agreed document at the last moment, saying it was ready to do this only after establishing an unconditional mutual ceasefire. This move by Kiev causes deep regret,” the ministry said in a statement.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia was ready to submit a draft document to the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe authorizing the placement of OSCE monitors and Ukrainian border guards at the Izvarino, Dolzhanskiy and Krasnopartizansk checkpoints to ensure the transparency of cross-border movement.
The three crossing points in question are currently under the control of local self-defense forces, but Kiev has insisted they return under its control.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced early Tuesday the end to the ceasefire between pro-Kiev forces and independence supporters in the country’s east.
Just a few hours after Poroshenko lifted the ceasefire the Ukrainian army resumed fighting on the Russian-Ukrainian border in Luhansk Region.
The border control zones of Donetsk-Izvarino and Krasnoparizansk-Gukovo have been closed.
Two people were reported wounded in the fighting between national guard forces and independence supporters near the Izvarino border checkpoint.
