US representative in OSCE: Russia thrusting to drive wedge between Ukrainian citizens and government
The Kremlin’s decision to expedite Russian citizenship procedures for the residents of occupied Donbas is an attempt to drive a wedge between Ukrainian citizens and government.
Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.
"The United States condemns President Putin’s highly provocative April 24 decision to provide expedited citizenship for Ukrainian citizens living in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine. On May 1, Russia announced it would also expedite citizenship procedures for Crimean-born Ukrainians who left before the Russian occupation. Russia also announced the forcible imposition of Russian citizenship on the residents of the peninsula. These actions are an attempt to drive a wedge between Ukrainian citizens and their government," Acting Deputy Chief of the US Mission to the OSCE Gregory Macris said during the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on Thursday.
The American diplomat underscored that the Kremlin’s actions created "a serious obstacle to the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the reintegration of the Donbas region and represent another attempt by Russia to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty over Crimea and the Donbas."
"These latest provocations from Russia came just days after the people of Ukraine overwhelming elected Volodymyr Zelenskyyi as the next president of Ukraine. President-elect Zelenskyi has repeatedly expressed his readiness to engage with Russia to implement the Minsk agreements and end the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia must now decide whether it wants to escalate tensions or pursue peace," Macris stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree expanding the list of Ukrainians and citizens of some other countries eligible for fast-tracked Russian passports.
Putin said there was nothing wrong with easing rules for residents of Ukrainian rebel regions to receive Russian passports. He also said Moscow was considering offering all Ukrainian citizens fast-tracked Russian passports.
Ukraine has appealed to the UN Security Council in connection with the introduction by Russian President Vladimir Putin of a simplified procedure for issuing Russian passports to the residents of certain regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO).
