UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has warned of “serious long-term consequences” if Russia continues to destabilize Ukraine. -- "Ukraine can be a bridge between the East and the West"

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has warned that there will be “serious long-term consequences” if Russia continues to destabilize Ukraine. 

Speaking in London at the Lord Mayor’s Easter banquet, Hague said, “In recent days Russia has deliberately pushed Ukraine to the brink, and created a still greater risk of violent confrontation. We call on Russia to stop these actions and to condemn the lawless acts in eastern Ukraine.”


Hague stated, “We are at a crucial moment in this crisis. Russia must choose whether it is open to diplomacy and de-escalation, and if it decides otherwise, we must be ready for a different state of relations with Russia in the next 10 years than in the last 20.”

Hague added, “Ukraine can be a bridge between the East and the West and be able to have good relations with Russia. But that does not entitle Russia to send in its armed groups, thinly disguised, to spearhead the occupation of buildings in multiple Ukrainian cities, to try permanently to destabilize the country and dictate the terms of its constitution.”

Hague warned, “My message to Moscow is that if anyone thinks they can do these things without serious long-term consequences they are making a grave miscalculation. If we do not defend those principles in Ukraine, including over Crimea, they will be threatened elsewhere in Europe and around the world. We have to maintain strength and unity and confidence now, or our resolve could be tested even more severely in the future.”
 [aa.com.tr]
16/4/14
--
-
Related:

• Germany warns Russia over escalating Ukraine tension. -- "Developments to a new quality would lead to the introduction of stage 3 sanctions."