Medvedev stands for Ukraine’s territorial integrity — PM

Russia stands for Ukraine’s territorial integrity with due account on decisions on Crimea taken last year, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday.

“Russia stands for Ukraine territorial integrity but, naturally, considering the decisions on Crimea taken last year,” he told a news conference after his talks with Slovenian leaders. “We are ready to continue consultation on that matter. I think it will be useful in any case.”

He said the most sensitive issue raised at his talks in Slovenia was the conflict in Ukraine. The Russian prime minister said his Slovenian counterpart Miro Cerar had informed him about the European Union’s position on Ukraine while he himself had once again states Russia’s unchanged stance.

“We also proceed from the fact that there is no military solution to this conflict, that it is to be settled by peaceful means, first of all, through talks between all the parties to this conflict, I mean both the official authorities and the authorities in the southeast [of Ukraine],” he said.

Among other topics discussed at the talks were issues of security, including efforts against radical terrorist groups, such as Islamic State, he said, adding that the situation in the Blakan was addressed too.

Slovenia’s Prime Minister Miro Cerar also said his country stood for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence.

“We touched upon the Ukrainian problem among other subjects. I informed my counterpart about Slovenia’s position, in particular, that Slovenia stands for territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine and calls to respect the Minsk agreements,” Cerar said, adding that Slovenia was among those countries that stood for a political dialogue, for the use of political means in settling the armed conflict.

“Slovenia sticks to this position. We are closely watching the situation and if it improves, it will lead to the abandonment of sanctions,” he said.