“…The seizure of Debaltseve, the increasing threat of attack on Mariupol and the continued flooding of Ukraine’s territory with Russian weapons and military personnel raise doubts about Moscow’s inclination to implement the Minsk agreement. If these activities continue, the response of the West has to be robust with all options on the table. These can include traditional means of raising the cost for aggression, such as [a] new round of economic sanction, but also new measures – exclusion of Russia from international organizations and SWIFT banking system, and deprivation of the right to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“Moscow has to be put before a simple choice: either it will comply with international law or suffer difficult consequences. In order for good relations to be restored, Russian forces, mercenaries and arms must leave Ukraine’s territory and the Kremlin must stop its interference in our internal affairs. Restoration of [the] territorial integrity of Ukraine must be seen as a logical step in the context of Budapest Memorandum…
“This also concerns the Ukrainian region of Crimea, which has become the victim of the initial stage of Russian aggression. Since the unlawful annexation of peninsula it has turned into a territory of brutal violations of human rights and abuses of individual freedoms. The indigenous population of Crimean Tatars is constantly harassed by the puppet authorities, while the mere of expression of support for Ukraine is treated as a crime. We believe that this situation can be resolved only through return of Crimea to Ukraine, and we will not rest until this goal is achieved. …”
– Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Olexander Motsyk, speaking on March 10 at a hearing of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.