U.S., Russia Pressure Each Other To Implement Geneva Agreement

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has called on Russia to take “concrete steps” to implement the international agreement on de-escalation in Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has meanwhile called on Washington to use its influence to pressure the Western-backed Ukrainian authorities to implement the Geneva agreement.

The United States and Russia each released statements following a telephone call between Kerry and Lavrov on April 21.

The State Department said Kerry had urged Russia to publicly call on separatists to vacate illegal buildings and checkpoints, and to accept an amnesty offered by the Ukrainian government.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov had urged Kerry to pressure Ukrainian authorities to crack down on ultra-nationalists and prevent "hotheads" from provoking a conflict.

Read more: http://www.rferl.org/content/us-vice-president-biden-starts-visit-to-ukraine/25357041.html

[2banon]

1. check mate n/t

[dipsydoodle]

2. Russia says Ukraine must urgently implement Geneva deal.

MOSCOW, April 22 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday that Ukraine must take urgent steps to implement a deal aimed at defusing the Ukraine crisis, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Lavrov said orders for the army to be deployed in the crisis should be reversed, the Right Sector Ukrainian nationalist group should be disarmed, arrested activists in southeast Ukraine freed and constitutional reforms started, the ministry said.

The call was a U.S. initiative and the two men agreed to maintain contact, it said.

http://www.trust.org/item/20140422183926-5vl4n

[The Magistrate]

3. Lavrov Is Engaged, Sir, In What In Diplomatic Circles Is Known As Throwing Bullshit

When Russia pulls the plug on its stooges in the east of the country, and makes clear it will not, under any circumstances, send troops across the border or annex any portion of Ukraine, he will have a leg to stand on in demanding any action from the Kiev authorities.