A security conference is an attempt by the Kremlin to distance itself from the Donbas conflict / Photo from ZN.UA
Moscow is seeking to ease sanctions by initiating and conducting a conference on security.
Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Yuriy Sergeyev announced this on the Facebook page of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations on Wednesday.
"By initiating and conducting a conference on security is another attempt by the Kremlin to distance itself from the conflict in eastern Ukraine through expert discussions of European regional security and measures to counter the threat of terrorism in the Middle East," he said.
In his words, Russia positions itself only as a side that is concerned about the situation with radical Islamic groups and is interested in the development of international military cooperation in that issue.
"The resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's direct involvement in it are negated. Russia wasn't courageous enough to invite Ukrainian representatives to the conference. Demonstrating concern about the security situation in Europe, Moscow will be seeking to ease the regime of sanctions against Russia," he said.
The fourth international conference on security is to be hosted by Moscow on April 16-17.
Defense ministers and delegates of military agencies from nearly 80 countries, including all NATO member states and NATO senior officials, were invited to the conference. However, most of NATO member states' defense ministers declined the invitation, and the countries will be represented by military attaches.
Chief of the Main Directorate of International Military Cooperation of the Russian Defense Ministry Sergei Koshelev said that defense ministers of Serbia and Greece would attend the conference and deliver their speeches.