Escalation of the situation in some cities in the East and South of Ukraine is instigated externally and is caused by subversive activities of the Russian Federation.

Groups under the command of the Russian special forces are involved in staging provocative acts.

Aggressive acts that threaten lives and safety of Ukrainian citizens, rise of separatist forces and participation of Russian citizens in illegal activities indicate the intent to implement the second phase of occupation of Ukraine.

Subversive activities are accompanied by large-scale propaganda campaign that cynically distorts facts, applies blackmail and threats, spreads blatant lies and seeks to justify interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine.

Escalation of the situation was designed to lead to bloodshed and military confrontation. This pretext was planned to be used for further aggression.

It was planned to disrupt peace using nonsense about “American commandos” who allegedly were to suppress rebels.

These speculations suggest that mindset of Russian secret service is poisoned pervasively by special ops.

Today we managed to stabilize the situation.

The public order is secured by Ukrainian law enforcement officers who strictly within the law will counteract against any attack on the state and people.

Ukrainian citizens did not fall for the provocations. Our people do not and will not accept the idea of separatism and fascism that are actively spread by provocateurs from the Russian special forces. The idea of so-called "federalization" of Ukraine is imposed by Moscow and belongs to the same set of special projects. It is not about federalization – they mean “paralyzation” of our country, its economy and opportunities of our citizens.

The fundamental position of the Government of Ukraine is to protect all democratic human rights and freedoms, develop genuine dialogue of national consensus in the country and provide comprehensive and real possibilities of the local government to all compatriots. Due to these possibilities each person in Ukraine will become a master of their own country. Real essence of the separation of powers, not the formal structure, should be changed in Ukraine. This prospect concerns all imperial and totalitarian forces that are afraid that a successful alternative to a controlled pseudo- democracy will emerge in Ukraine.

Russian chauvinism is not interested in the rights of any person, including real needs of the Russian people, whose complex economic, social and demographic situation draw righteous international concern and uneasiness. Severe internal problems should bring the aggressor down to earth.

Ukraine demands that the Russian Federation immediately stops interfering in the internal affairs of Ukraine and abide by its public commitments to de-escalate the situation.

Ukraine is prepared for international settlement and dialogue in the formats that will provide practical results in a distinctly defined time span.

Issues that are within the sovereign right of the Ukrainian people to implement their own internal and foreign policy will not be negotiated. We caution the Russian side against obsessive attempts to devise its constitution for Ukraine. These intentions have nothing to do with the interests of our citizens. They reflect the plan of occupation and stagnation.

The principal elements of the settlement should be termination of aggressive actions, rhetoric and subversion by the Russian federation against our country, rejection by Russia of occupation plans, which constitute a direct threat to all neighboring states, international peace and security, and withdrawal of the armed forces from the Ukrainian border and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Ukraine welcomes sweeping global solidarity in defense of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. Our combined forces should be guided by confidence and firm willingness to return Russia to a civilized field of relations, law and coexistence of states.

Ministério das Relações Exteriores da Ucrânia