German Foreign Minister: 'Further Escalation Not Out of the Question' in Ukraine

[unhappycamper]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-on-ukraine-and-middle-east-with-foreign-minister-steinmeier-a-981761.html



Wreckage from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17 is seen at the crash site near the settlement of Grabovo in Ukraine's Donestk region.

German Foreign Minister: 'Further Escalation Not Out of the Question' in Ukraine
Interview Conducted by Roland Nelles and Severin Weiland
July 18, 2014 – 01:01 PM

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Mr. Steinmeier, a Malaysian Airlines passenger jet was presumably shot down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday. Could the situation there spin completely out of control?

Steinmeier: It is appalling that hundreds of people who were completely uninvolved lost their lives in such a horrible way. Rescue and security personnel must immediately be granted access to the crash site. The circumstances and cause of the crash must be cleared up as quickly as possible, and an independent international investigation should be created to do so.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: The fighting in Ukraine has continued without abatement. Do you still believe that a peaceful solution is possible?

Steinmeier: In the last two weeks, I haven't taken my eye off the Ukraine crisis for a single second. The foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany reached agreement on the path to a ceasefire at the beginning of July in Berlin. Unfortunately, we still aren't there. Currently, there is a dispute about the site of a meeting between the contact group and the separatists. We will continue to stay true to our course: Clear statements to the conflict parties combined, as necessary, with pressure and also a mindful of maintaining negotiation possibilities. To reach a solution, there is no way around a ceasefire. I will continue working towards an end to the violence. Only then can the path be cleared for the political solution that we need.