The tense situation in the east of Ukraine
1 Iran. Uranium enrichment The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for the Political Affairs, Abbas Aragchi, stated that "Iran won’t slow down the nuclear activities, especially the enrichment of uranium, until the USA lift all the sanctions against Tehran" - the ’IRNA’ news agency quoted his words. He noted that "there are signs that the Americans are reconsidering their position, and they are moving towards lifting of all the sanctions. So far Iran can’t make an assessment, since the negotiations are not over yet". Abbas Aragchi added that some political will is needed to continue the negotiations on the nuclear deal. "Iran sees no reason to continue the negotiations unless the other parties of the ’Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’ show their political will to resolve the issues" - the Press TV quoted his words. 2 Ukraine. Aggravation in Donbass The Deputy Head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Igor Zhovkva, stated in an interview to the newspaper "The Left Bank" that Kiev should expect a new military escalation in the Donbass. He clarified that the Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky is in a constant contact with the foreign partners, and he informs them about the state of affairs. Earlier Vladimir Zelensky had telephone conversations with the US President Joe Biden, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and with the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Igor Zhovkva noted that currently the level of combat readiness of the Ukrainian forces is much higher than in 2014, as well as the level of the political readiness of Ukrainian partners. 3 Ukraine. The US delegation at the border of Donbass. The US Joint Forces Operations Command reported on Facebook that a US delegation, led by the military attaché at the American Embassy in Kiev, visited the positions of the Ukrainian forces on the contact line in Donbass. "The US government is deeply concerned about the situation that is developing at the borders of Ukraine. The US government supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in every possible way" - the Press Office of the Joint Forces Operations Command quoted the US Army and Defense Attaché, Colonel Brittany Stewart. 4 Russia-Germany. Troops on the border with Ukraine The press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, commented on the call of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, during her conversation with the Russian president to not increase the presence of the Russian troops near the border with Ukraine. “The President gave the necessary clarifications. Firstly, we are free to move our own armed forces and any other units across the territory of Russia at our discretion. Secondly - Ukraine is turning into a very unstable country. Any country that has an unstable, dangerous, explosive regions near its own borders would take measures to ensure its own security" - Dmitry Peskov explained. He noted that if full-scale hostilities resume in Ukraine - it’d make a threat to the Russian security. He added that the Ukrainian troops, stationed on the contact line in Donbass, are performing provocative actions. 5 Russia. About the situation in the east of Ukraine The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that the joint statement of Berlin and Paris on the situation in the eastern Ukraine "speaks of the helplessness to influence Kiev, which is obliged to fulfill what Ukraine has signed after it was approved during the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution". Maria Zakharova noted that the helpless European position became obvious over time, when all attempts to influence Kiev have failed. Earlier the Foreign Ministers of France and Germany, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Heiko Maas, jointly stated their concern about the escalation of the situation on the contact line in Donbass. They expressed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. 6 Russia. About the situation in the east of Ukraine The vice-speaker of the Russian Federal Council, Konstantin Kosachev, stated that all the actions that Russia is taking in south-eastern Ukraine are aimed at preventing a military operation from Kiev. “This is the goal of the negotiations between the Russian president and our partners in the Normandy format, the efforts of the Russian special envoy Dmitry Kozak, and the work of our colleagues in the contact group. We are ready to protect our citizens and compatriots from the military force. Besides, this is a conflict prevention, not a provocation" - Konstantin Kosachev stated on Facebook. He expressed an opinion that the Ukrainian president is being forced to take an action both by the radical nationalists, and the political self-survival due to the fact that the presidential time is running out, and the election promises still remain on the paper. Constantine Reztsov, specially for the ANNA NEWS.
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