REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BRUSSELS -- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin Wednesday vowed that Kiev will stick by its unilateral ceasefire despite the downing of an army helicopter by pro-Russia separatists.
"We stick to our commitment, we stick to our unilateral ceasefire," Klimkin told reporters at NATO, after nine servicemen were killed in Tuesday's attack outside the city of Slavyansk.
But he warned that "of course such actions, such provocations are extremely dangerous for getting a sustainable ceasefire."
"We are committed to do our utmost in order to achieve the de-escalation of the situation in Donetsk and Lugansk, it's critical."
Ukrainian authorities have agreed to implement a week-long ceasefire which came into force on June 21.
New Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Wednesday sought urgent talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after the rebel attack which came despite ceasefire orders from their own commander.
The death of nine servicemen outside the pro-Russian stronghold and loss of two other soldiers in attacks had prompted Poroshenko to threaten to unleash a powerful new military campaign in the industrial east.
"Extending or not extending the ceasefire is the competence of the president," Klimkin said, after holding a series of talks at a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
"We have a number of worrying developments... but we are fully committed to the peace plan, we are fully committed to do our utmost on the peace plan," Klimkin said.
"Any further decisions and any further actions would of course depend on the ongoing developments in the next coming days."
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika