[www.inewsguyana.com] – The United States Embassy in Guyana has released a statement urging the international community to stand together in challenging violations of international law and in imposing costs on Russia for supporting armed takeover of government buildings in Kramatorsk, Slovyansk and other cities in eastern Ukraine.
The statement noted that the United States and many of our partners have made clear, including at EU and UN Security Council meetings in recent days, that they are very concerned about evidence of Russian support for a concerted, orchestrated campaign of incitement and sabotage to undermine and destabilize the Ukrainian state.
Over the weekend, there was an armed takeover of government buildings in Kramatorsk, Slovyansk and other cities in eastern Ukraine. According to the US, evidence of Russian support was apparent in these events, as it was before in Crimea, and in the regional capitals of Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk last week.
“Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, its illegal occupation of Crimea, and its ongoing efforts to destabilize the Ukrainian government by fomenting unrest in the east are violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a breach of Russia’s core obligations under international law. Russia’s actions threaten international peace and stability,” the statement noted.
To this end, President Obama has issued three Executive Orders and the United States has imposed targeted sanctions on three tranches of persons most directly involved in destabilizing Ukraine and those who have provided material support to Russian leadership. The EU Council likewise strengthened sanctions against persons responsible for misappropriating Ukrainian state funds and targeted four additional persons with asset freeze and visa bans.
The United States urges the Government of Guyana to take similar measures against individuals and entities sanctioned by the United States.
“Given the signs we are seeing that are similar to those that preceded the invasion of Crimea, we also need to be prepared for the possibility of Russian military intervention in eastern or southern Ukraine.”
G7 leaders agreed that countries should respond to any invasion with broad sanctions against major sectors of the Russian economy.
The Embassy said the US remains committed to a diplomatic solution to this crisis, but such a solution can only be achieved if Russia ends its destabilizing and provocative actions.
Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Geneva, Switzerland, on April 17 to participate in a multilateral meeting among the United States, Ukraine, Russia, and the European Union to discuss the ongoing situation in and around Ukraine. Secretary Kerry will continue efforts to deescalate the situation in Ukraine and find a diplomatic path forward.
