Assembly President Hugh Bayley (United Kingdom) has welcomed the joint statement by representatives from the United States, the European Union, Russia and Ukraine. 

“I welcome the joint statement as a long-overdue step towards dialogue and de-escalation.  It is vitally important that this agreement is implemented without delay so that there is real evidence of de-escalation,” said President Bayley.

“The joint statement represents an agreement to disarm illegal armed groups, and return all illegally seized buildings to their legitimate owners in return for amnesty for all those protestors vacating buildings and surrendering their weapons, with the exception of anyone found guilty of capital crimes.

“I fervently hope that the statement’s intentions will prove to be genuine commitments.  If so, this statement will mark a turning point, removing the threat of violence and allowing the Ukrainian people the freedom to determine their own future. The next few days will show whether we have witnessed a real diplomatic breakthrough or merely the raising of false hopes.  For the people of Ukraine, I sincerely hope that it is the former”, he concluded.

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