COU CIL OF
THE EUROPEA U IO
EN
Council conclusions on Ukraine
FOREIG AFFAIRS Council meeting
Brussels, 3 March 2014
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"1.
The European Union strongly condemns the clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and
territorial integrity by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces as well as the
authorisation given by the Federation Council of Russia on 1 March for the use of the
armed forces on the territory of Ukraine. These actions are in clear breach of the UN
Charter and the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, as well as of Russia's specific commitments to
respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity under the Budapest Memorandum of
1994 and the bilateral Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership of 1997. These
actions are also a clear breach of the Ukrainian constitution which specifically recognises
the territorial integrity of the country and states that the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
can only organise referenda on local matters but not on the modification of the territorial
configuration of Ukraine.
The EU calls on Russia to immediately withdraw its armed forces to the areas of their
permanent stationing, in accordance with the Agreement on the Status and Conditions of
the Black Sea Fleet stationing on the territory of Ukraine of 1997. Russia should also
without delay agree to the request by Ukraine to hold consultations, as foreseen in the
bilateral Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership of 1997, and to take part in
urgent consultations among all signatories and adherents of the Budapest Memorandum of
1994.
The EU calls for a peaceful solution to the current crisis and full respect of the principles
of and obligations under international law. The EU remains ready to engage in and
promote any constructive dialogue with all parties aimed at reaching such a peaceful
solution and will continue its engagement in international facilitation efforts, working with
the UN, the OSCE, and other international actors, including on proposals for international
observation and mediation, and welcomes a possible OSCE fact finding mission in this
regard.
2.
3.
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