Russia: “If force will be used in the eastern Ukraine, there will be nothing to discuss in Geneva”

Will the Geneva Summit on Ukraine be an occasion for dialogue? Presumably, it won’t. Russia has frozen European expectations, saying that the four-participant summit to be held on Thursday could be void of contents, following the current events in Ukraine. “It is clear that if situation in Ukraine grows in a massive bloodshed, there will be nothing to discuss with so-called acting Ukrainian foreign minister,” said the Russian Permanent Representative in EU, Vladimir Chizhov. A position that should preclude any research for a democratic and peaceful resolution for the situation. In case of a failure in the negotiations, several scenarios could be put in place, including further sanctions against Russia by the European Union. So far it is quite clear that Russia is ready to slow down on negotiations, trying to make Europe understand that communitarian strategies can be re-examined.

EU28 Foreign Ministers renounced to adopt economic sanctions against Russia in order not to compromise the four-participant summit (EU, US, Ukraine, Russia) that will take place on Thursday in Geneva, which is no longer a safe negotiation table. “Appeals and vigorous statements over a four-party meeting in Geneva this Thursday sound certainly optimistic, but it is clear that if situation in Ukraine grows in a massive bloodshed, there will be nothing to discuss with so-called acting Ukrainian foreign minister,” added Chizhov.

In the meantime, the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, explained that Russia does not want the Geneva negotiations to fail. “If you hear someone saying Russia is afraid to hold these talks in Geneva, don’t believe it. It’s a lie,” said Putin’s close collaborator. “Do not believe anyone saying there won’t be any negotiation in Geneva about Ukraine: we are going there for discussing the situation.” Yet, Lavrov added the same thing expressed by the Russian Ambassador at the EU: in case of violence in eastern Ukraine, the situation changes.

“We’ve been getting ready for the Geneva summit in Moscow, yet if force is used in the south-eastern part of the country the possibilities for our participation will drastically diminish.”

Renato Giannetti