Kiev. December 19. INTERFAX-UKRAINE - The end of the conflict in the east of Ukraine is possible through political and diplomatic means, but in case of threats to the territorial integrity of the country will not make any concessions, emphasizes the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Alexey Reznikov.
"The end of this war is possible through political and diplomatic means. It's obvious. Not aggression. But we clearly understand that we will not make any concessions if it threatens our territorial integrity or sovereignty," Reznikov said in an interview for Armiyainform.
According to him, the return of territories not controlled by Kiev and their reintegration are possible in conditions of complete security. "If it is an ultimatum from the Kremlin that we should get another federal district or the autonomy they dream of, it is impossible," the minister stressed.
According to Reznikov, according to sociological research in Ukraine, 70% of Ukrainians agree to the return of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions on conditions until 2014. "The end of the conflict should take place in the order of restoring control between Ukraine and Russia on the border, carrying out complete total disarmament in the occupied temporary territories, demilitarization, the introduction of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies there, preparation for local elections, when it becomes clear that the OSCE Copenhagen standards will allow for open, transparent local elections there. There can be no other option," the head of the Defense Ministry said.
He also called for the parties to the conflict to observe the ceasefire regime, which is prescribed in the Minsk agreements. Reznikov recalled that in July last year it was agreed on a regime of silence, and it lasted for almost five months. But in January of this year, the enemy violated the silence regime and began "using sniper fire, killing the Ukrainian military," he noted.
According to the minister, when a sniper makes a shot, the OSCE SMM monitoring mission does not hear and does not see it, however, Ukrainian servicemen need to respond in response to such attacks by using heavy weapons, in particular artillery, grenade launchers or mortars, which will immediately register the OSCE SMM as a violation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"During this year, 43 Ukrainian soldiers were killed by sniper fire, namely from sniper fire," says Reznikov.
