New statement from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry endorsing an EU agreement and emphasizing

[pampango]

Ukraine's territorial integrity:

At the time when the eyes of the world are turned to Ukraine, when our brothers and sisters lose their lives on the streets of Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian diplomats cannot stay aside.

Under these conditions, our primary mission is a true and impartial informing the international community about the situation in our country, as well as protection of national interests of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and each and every Ukrainian citizen.

We have always been and will be guided by the basic principles – independence of Ukraine, safeguarding through diplomatic means its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Therefore we cannot but respond to some statements coming both from inside and outside of Ukraine about a possible split of our country. We strongly condemn such statements and express our utmost support for Ukraine as a single, unitary, and European State.

We believe that now is the time for compromise. We urge all parties to do everything to ensure that our country has ceased the bloodshed.

When the conflict is still underway, remember that the common European values unite Ukrainian citizens with each other. We believe that the signing of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, the support of which has in fact become a cornerstone for Euromaidan, can unite us all.

http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-liveblog-day-3-of-the-ukraine-crisis/#1313

Of course, it is very doubtful that this represents any basic change in Yanukovych's policy. Rather it is likely that the foreign minister and other high level officials in the foreign ministry will soon be looking for new jobs. Still this certainly reveals a big split in the government at a crucial time.

[Old and In the Way]

1. "the common European values unite Ukrainian citizens with each other."

If this statement is so, why are pro-EU protesters being killed by the security forces? Or are these pro-Russian protestors that are creating the problem? Or is this an issue that the government really doesn't control the security forces?

[pampango]

2. This was a Foreign Ministry statement. That ministry has no control over security forces so

that statement is meaningless on the ground in Independence Square. But it does represent a fracture of the government when the Foreign Ministry is contradicting the policy chosen by Yanukovych that started these demonstrations in the first place.

As I said, the main upshot of this is that I expect there will be several people in the Foreign Ministry looking for new jobs in the near future.

[Old and In the Way]

4. Thanks for the clarification! nt

[sufrommich]

3. Looks like the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

has gone rogue. Except real rogue,not Sarah Palin rogue.