Dear Editor,
The situation in Ukraine demonstrates that the potential for conflict is growing in the world; old contradictions are growing ever more acute and new ones are being provoked. It is evident that international law is not working, the most basic norms of decency are not complied with and the principle of permissiveness is gaining the upper hand.
It is important to understand clearly that the events provoked in Ukraine are the concentrated outcome of a notorious deterrence policy. Its roots go deep into history and it is clear that unfortunately, this policy did not end with the end of the Cold War.
In Ukraine Russian people and people of other nationalities, their language, history, culture and legal rights, guaranteed, by the way, by European conventions are under threat.
What happened in Ukraine was the climax of the negative tendencies in international affairs that had been building up for years.
Despite the efforts of Russia to convince President of Ukraine Mr Poroshenko that the road to a secure, stable and inviolable peace cannot lie through war, he resolved to resume military action.
Unfortunately even after the ceasefire was declared, no substantive negotiations on the settlement of the situation ever began. Virtually, a disarmament ultimatum was given. However, even the ceasefire was not bad overall, though not enough to settle the situation on a long-term basis in a way that would be acceptable to all the people living in the country, including those in its south-east.
A constitution was made public, but it was never discussed. Even within Ukrainian society there is a discussion about whether it is good or bad, but nobody definitely ever discussed it with millions of people in the east.
Of course, everything that is going on in Ukraine is an internal affair of the Ukrainian state. It pains to see people dying, especially civilians. The number of refugees to the Russian Federation is growing. Of course Russia will provide assistance to all those who need it.
The killing of journalists is unacceptable and alarming in Ukraine. What we are observing is a focused effort to liquidate all media representatives. This applies to both Russian and foreign journalists.
Who could be afraid of fair reporting? Probably those who are committing crimes. We strongly hope that the Ukrainian authorities act on their promises to carefully investigate the crimes.
Yours faithfully,
Denis Kopyl
Press Attaché of the Russian Embassy in Guyana