I am glad to reject the amendment on the severance of diplomatic relations with Russia


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KYIV, January 17 - RIA Novosti. The Verkhovna Rada refused to amend the diplomatic relations with Russia in the bill on the reintegration of Donbass.

The initiative was supported only by 72 parliamentarians at the required minimum of 226 votes. Earlier this amendment was rejected by the profile committee of the parliament, but its author demanded to put the proposal to the vote.

By 15:00 Moscow time the deputies considered 624 amendments out of 673. The final vote will be held on Thursday.
Course of consideration

The parliament is discussing the draft law on the reintegration of Donbass in the second reading. He gives the president the right to use armed forces in the region in peacetime to protect sovereignty. This will legitimize the use of the army in the east without declaring war.

In the document, the territories of Donbass that are not controlled by Kiev are recognized as "occupied", and Russia is called an aggressor country.

In the first reading, the project was approved in October last year. It was adopted with amendments, excluding the point on the priority importance of the Minsk agreements for the settlement of the conflict. Instead, it is proposed to rely on the UN Security Council resolution on the Donbas.

Diplomatic relations between Russia and Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine established diplomatic relations in 1992. In 2014, both states withdrew their ambassadors. The diplomatic mission in Ukraine is now headed by temporary attorney Alexander Lukashik. At the same time, the embassies and consulates of both states are working in the same volume.

According to the Ukrainian legislation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another central body of executive power (Cabinet, ministries, departments) can propose the disruption of diplomatic relations.

The Foreign Ministry said that it does not support such an idea, since it believes that this can have a negative impact on Ukrainians. The Kremlin noted that the disruption of diplomatic relations is a sovereign affair of Ukraine, but the adoption of such a decision "will further complicate the situation," and will also damage the interests of both Russians and Ukrainians themselves.

The initiative on breaking diplomatic relations with Russia was also criticized in the parliamentary coalition. According to some deputies, such a step for Ukraine will be akin to "suicide" and will lead to escalation of the conflict in Donbass

Link: https://ria.ru/world/20180117/1512776783.html