William Hague calls Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin

3 Jul 2014 04:41 PM

William Hague has restated the UK’s support for Ukraine in a call to Foreign Minister Klimkin. 

Foreign Secretary William Hague has today spoken to his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin. During the call, he restated the UK’s strong support for the Ukrainian government and people, and discussed the practical steps needed to bring peace to the country.

Speaking after the call, the Foreign Secretary said:

I assured Mr Klimkin of the UK’s full support for Ukraine’s right and determination to secure its territorial integrity in the face of continuing Russian aggression.

The UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with European partners in efforts to secure a diplomatic solution to the violence in Ukraine, but the European Council has made clear that we are ready to impose further sanctions on Russia if they fail to take the necessary steps to end military hostility.

I urge the Russian Federation to use its influence over illegally armed groups and to stop the flow of weapons and militants into the east of Ukraine. Russia should not expect the 16 July European Council to imagine that it is unable to secure its own borders.

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