Russia has urged the Ukrainian government to halt what it calls a military operation against its own people and called on the OSCE international monitoring mission to investigate clashes with pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Donetsk.
Ukraine launched air strikes and a paratrooper assault against pro-Russian rebels who seized an airport on Monday, as its newly elected leader rejected any talks with "terrorists".
"In connection with reports of armed clashes near Donetsk that have led to casualties, we urgently appeal to the leadership of the OSCE and its special monitoring mission in Ukraine to provide detailed information on the events there," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"We expect objective and comprehensive information about this from representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and from the Kiev authorities — a halt to the military operations against its own people."
Echoing remarks by President Vladimir Putin in the past few days, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was ready to work with Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's next president. But he warned the Kiev authorities not to step up armed operations against separatists in the east.
See also:
Ukraine Launches Air Strike to Recapture Donetsk Airport
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
