PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Ukraine (30 June 2014)

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and other EU Foreign Ministers met with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 23 June. During the meeting Mr Klimkin presented President Poroshenko's peace plan, and asked for a clear EU message of support. Mr Klimkin stressed that the peace process should be inclusive, and reflected on the risk that, if the current situation were prolonged, illegal groups would destabilise the situation further.

In the Conclusions of the meeting, the EU reiterated its strong support for Ukraine's unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and called upon Russia to do likewise, to repudiate the latest lawless acts in Eastern Ukraine and to contribute to stabilize the situation. The EU called on all parties to exercise restraint and commended the Ukrainian authorities for pursuing their law and order operations in a measured manner. The EU also encouraged the government in Kyiv to contribute further to reducing tensions.

The Foreign Secretary also spoke to Mr Klimkin on 3 July to reiterate UK support in the face of continuing Russian agression.