The UN General Assembly offered an opportunity to confront the Ukraine crisis. The OSCE is in the forefront, having organised a meeting chaired by the Viennese organisation’s duty president Didier Burkhalter and secretary general ambassador Lamberto Zannier. The event centered on the OSCE’s efforts toward the peaceful resolution of the crisis, but discussions also included the difficulties and reform of the European security system and the role of OSCE and the UN, not least in view of the upcoming OSCE ministerial council in Basil (4-5 December 2014).
Ukraine was also the focus of a meeting of the G7 foreign ministers, whose conclusions indicate the Minsk accords of 1 and 19 September as a major step toward consensus on a sustainable ceasefire, more secure Russia-Ukraine borders and a return to peace and stability in Ukraine. Russia was also asked to immediately fulfil the pledges undertaken in the Minsk accord, including withdrawal of its armed troops and weaponry from Ukraine and ensure and respect the international borders between the two countries with OSCE surveillance.
