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Poroshenko initiates measures to control Russian-Ukrainian border

Poroshenko initiates measures to control Russian-Ukrainian border

17 June 2014

In opening the June 16 meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the Ukrainian government has to establish full control of the Russian-Ukrainian border. Only then can a cease-fire be called as part of a peace plan to settle the conflict, he said. The cease-fire will allow the armed pro-Russian fighters to put down their weapons, he said. As part of its decisions reached, the Council ordered the Cabinet of Ministers to conduct a unilateral demarcation of the Russian-Ukrainian border and ensure the border is adapted to address present-day security threats, Council Secretary Andriy Parubiy announced on June 16.

 

In particular, the Council recommended building a barrier along the border as well as reconnaissance measures to neutralize saboteurs entering Ukraine. The demarcation and barrier construction will occur along all border points, not only those involved in the current conflict, he said. Poroshenko ordered these tasks to be fulfilled in the soonest period. The Council discussed ceasing the ability of Russian ships to dock in Ukrainian ports on the Azov Sea, as well as temporarily halting rail and air admission points to Russia, Parubiy said.

 

The Council also considered imposing martial law on the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, Parubiy said. “Obviously, that option is being considered, and when the president makes a decision on that matter, the Council will meet and discuss it,” he said. “We will first do everything possible to propose to the armed opponent – which is using weapons against Ukrainian citizens, the Ukrainian state – that it lay down its arms and leave Ukraine.”

 

Between 15,000 and 20,000 pro-Russian fighters are active in the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, about half of which are from the Russian Federation, Parubiy said. They are forcing local residents to fight alongside them, “using them as human shields,” he said. Meanwhile, 125 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the government’s anti-terrorist operation in the two oblasts, Vice Prime Minister Vitaliy Yarema told the ICTV network on June 16. That figure includes the 49 killed in the June 14 plane attack. “But very few died in battles, unlike the terrorists,” he said. “That is to say, the professional level of our army and National Guard is exceptionally high.”

 

The Ukrainian government’s anti-terrorist operation is hampered by the fact that “we are working with all our strength not to allow deaths of the civilian population,” Parubiy said. “The goal of the (anti-government) fighters is the opposite, or to provoke as many deaths as possible.”

 

Zenon Zawada: It’s a relief to see the Ukrainian president take some action after a nine-day period following his inauguration in which little was done. All the measures are necessary, if not overdue, including the decision to hold off on imposing martial law, which could have unforeseen consequences that could exacerbate the conflict.

 

The public will be watching closely to see if the government fulfills these tasks, particularly in erecting a barrier, which is an appropriate proposal. But many measures are still lacking. For example, we have yet to see anyone held responsible for the June 14 attack killing 49 soldiers. Meanwhile, the military remains ill-equipped. Poroshenko has his work cut out in demonstrating to the public his ability to de-escalate the war in Donbas.

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