The conflict in Ukraine needs an immediate international intervention for which the most logical way would be reaching a new ceasefire, and allowing UN peacekeeping force to the country. Of course, provided that Russia is not going to veto the decision in the UN Security Council. This step would end the violence and Ukraine’s further losses of any territory.

Nonetheless, the probability is not great due to Russia’s wish to weaken Ukraine as long as that country abandons moving towards European Union.

If it would be possible to end the violence, only then there would be ground to conduct political negotiations to end the conflict so that Ukraine could be free to make its own choices for the future.

Creating a permanent mission of the European Union would also contribute to relieving the situation, however, Russia would probably not allow the mission to its occupied territories.

Hence, the foreign ministers of European Union need to make new explicit decisions this thursday in order to influence Russia to stop their new, large-scale attacks in Ukraine.

Additional information:
urmas.paet@ep.europa.eu
www.urmaspaet.eu

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Today in the European Parliament were discussed EU–Turkey relations where Urmas Paet, a member of the European Parliament, said that considering the complicated security situation in the EU´s immediate neighbourhood more must be done to advance the relations between the EU and Turkey and also new chapters should be opened in their accession negotiations to the EU.

According to Paet it is important to move on with the accession negotiations, otherwise the EU will miss out on many opportunities. „For example we are not negotiating energy chapter whereas at the same time EU wants to strengthen its energy security and is looking for alternative sources,“ he said.

Turkey has to be taken into account also when looking for solutions to the conflicts in Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Libya and other countries in the neighbourhood, Paet said. „For decades Turkey has been an important ally in NATO and this has to be taken into account also in the context of further developing the relations between Turkey and EU. EU needs strong allies especially today so it is important for the EU-Turkey accession negotiations to start moving with pace,“ he added.

Paet also said that Turkey is a natural partner for the EU in the context of fighting illegal immigration and helping refugees that have fled the conflict areas.

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