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Minister for Europe meets Russian Ambassador to London

David Lidington stressed importance of ceasefire and access to the MH17 site and raised unacceptable abduction of Estonian official. 

Minister for Europe David Lidington met the Russian Ambassador to discuss the situation in Ukraine. He pushed for the removal of Russian troops and equipment, restated UK condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea, and discussed the preliminary findings of the investigation into flight MH17. He also raised concerns at the illegal and unacceptable abduction of an Estonian official by Russian authorities.

Mr Lidington said:

I welcomed the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and called on Russia to take immediate steps to end the violence for good, particularly stopping the supply of armour, weapons and personnel across the border and removing all the people and military equipment it has already delivered.

I also made clear that EU sanctions were being imposed as a direct response to Russian actions and would remain in place until we see evidence of a change of direction.

In light of the recently announced ceasefire, I called on Russia to use its influence with separatists to ensure that investigators have access to the crash site of flight MH17.

Separately, I expressed my strong concern about the illegal and unacceptable abduction of an Estonian Security Service officer from Estonian territory by Russian Security Services on 5 September, and called for his immediate release.

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