On October 2, 2014 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) discussed the report of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe «The progress of the Assembly's monitoring procedure (October 2013 – September 2014)» and adopted Resolution №2018(2014).

In this Resolution PACE recognized the direct military intervention of Russia in Ukraine and urged Russia to reverse its illegal annexation of Crimea, to cease any military aid to the insurgents in eastern Ukraine, to withdraw its military forces from that area and the borders of Ukraine as well as to refrain from any actions that could directly or indirectly escalate the situation in eastern Ukraine.

In fact the presence of Russian troops in Ukraine and Russian influence on the escalation of the situation in the eastern regions of Ukraine were confirmed almost in the same way as it goes in the decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe «On the situation in Ukraine» which was adopted on September 17, 2014.

PACE not only recognized the actions of Russia against Ukraine as violation of international obligations and the Statute of the Council of Europe but as well it noted the worsening of the situation in Russia in the field of human rights, including violations of freedom of expression and assembly.

After the state of Ukraine's compliance with its commitments before the Council of Europe have been analyzed PACE noted that presidential elections in Ukraine were held in May 2014 on a fair and democratic basis, in line with international standards and with respect to fundamental rights and freedoms despite the difficult situation in the eastern regions of our country.

In general in the Resolution the Assembly assesses its monitoring procedure as an important tool for positive transformations in the Council of Europe member States and proposes a number of innovations in the relevant process which are aimed at improving its transparency, objectivity and effectiveness.

We share such an assessment and the importance of PACE’s monitoring procedure. Ukraine will continue the cooperation with PACE both in promoting democratic changes in our country and ensuring the fulfillment of commitments before the Council of Europe by all its member States.