Riga, 08/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and the Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkevics, have both highlighted “positive” but “limited signs” from Russia regarding the situation in Ukraine.
During the press conference with Rinkevics on Thursday 8 January, Mogherini referred to the “few positive but limited signs coming from the Russians”. She also underlined the importance of understanding Ukrainian perceptions regarding these signs. She highlighted the fact that the situation on the ground was “slightly better” and that the Ukrainians had perceived “limited but nevertheless, important overtures” on the ground.
On 7 January, Rinkevics said that there had been a sort of opening up that could be used and that there had been “positive signs”. He explained that during the consultations with the Russian vice minister for foreign affairs and political leaders “there were a number of signs indicating a willingness for launching some sort of new approach”.
Rinkevics in Moscow on 10-11 January
Mogherini, however, was cautious and explained that the assessment should become clearer after the visit to Moscow on 10-11 January, of the Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs. Rinkevics will be travelling to Moscow after having spent 9 and 10 January in Ukraine. The latter joked that “I will be on a reconnaissance mission”. When he is in Russia, he will meet a number of senior figures including the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov and other government officials, “to attempt to find new ways on how we can commit to the negotiations on the Eastern Partnership”.
He also explained “we need to have another chance for further dialogue with Russia concerning the crisis in Ukraine and the events in eastern Ukraine”.
Mogherini welcomed this visit, which she considered “crucial because this is the precise moment when discussions are taking place on implementation of the Minsk agreements”. According to the latter, this visit to Moscow provides an opportunity for attempting to understand the “real intentions and real possibilities” from the Russian side, as well as seeing how the EU could bring support to finding a solution to the crisis.
Rinkevics will report back during the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 January, during which relations with Russia will be the flagship subject. Mogherini explained that the question of a visit from Russia would also be discussed during this Council.
Review of initial sanctions in March. Questioned about the sanctions, the Latvian minister stated that the situation would be re-assessed coming up to March, when the initial sanctions are due to be reviewed. He said that the EU would act according to the progress that has or has not been made. “If the situation improves in Eastern Ukraine, we will certainly support the sanctions being eased”, he said, mentioning border control and the flow of weapons. “We must show flexibility. If we see progress, we must act accordingly”, he said. “It there isn't any, there is no reason to lift the sanctions”, he added. He also believed that if there had been no European sanctions, the situation could have been worse, and he mentioned the risk of a corridor from Russia to the Black Sea.
The high representative reiterated the importance of implementing all the points of the Minsk agreement. “The Minsk process must be continued (…) What I can say with certainty is that this [the sanctions] will depend on the situation on the ground”, she said. “If the positive but limited openings lead to something more at that time, we will consider the March deadlines and the others. If not, the member states will discuss how to address the situation”, she said.
Elsewhere, Latvia - like the other Baltic countries, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, the UK and Germany - backs the project of a television channel in Russian in order to counter the Russian propaganda. The channel could be broadcast throughout Europe. Discussions are currently ongoing at the European Endowment for Democracy and the process is expected to produce results by May. Around 36% of Latvians are Russian-speaking from birth. (CG)