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Deepening dispute between Russia and West: Polish FM

PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki 07.12.2018 07:00
There is a deepening dispute between Russia and Western countries over developments affecting the international community, the Polish foreign minister has said.
Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. Photo: EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz. Photo: EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Jacek Czaputowicz was speaking after a meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Milan, Italy, on Thursday.

He told a news conference that the gathering of dozens of foreign ministers focused on "the conflict in Ukraine," including last month’s incident in the Kerch Strait connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, where Russia fired on and captured three Ukrainian navy ships near the annexed Crimea peninsula.

Most OSCE countries represented at the meeting expressed support for Ukraine, while condemning “Russia's actions, which are contrary to international law," Czaputowicz said.

He told reporters that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded “in a sharp manner” with a strongly-worded “confrontational” statement.

“This shows that there is a dispute between Russia and Western countries in terms of functioning within the international community and that it is deepening," Czaputowicz said, as quoted by Poland’s PAP news agency.

He also said that he had discussed in Milan "possible further US and EU steps towards Russia in reaction to the latter's infringement of international law in the Sea of Azov" with US Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell.

CNN has reported that the United States has begun making preparations to sail a warship into the Black Sea amid Russia-Ukraine tensions.

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP

tags: Ukraine
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