President Petro Poroshenko has said Russia's allegations about Ukraine plotting terror acts in Russia-annexed Crimea do not make any sense and are "cynical". He suggested they may be used by Russia as a pretext for more military threats against Ukraine.
The following is the text of his statement:
"Russian accusations that Ukraine launched terror attacks in occupied Crimea are as cynical and absurd as its claims that there are no Russian troops in eastern Ukraine.
These fantasies pursue the only goal: a pretext for more military threats against Ukraine.
Ukraine resolutely condemns terrorism in all its forms and shapes. We would never ever use terror to de-occupy Crimea.
Russia provides money and arms to support terrorism in Ukraine. It became a state-led policy on the occupied areas of Crimea and eastern Ukraine that resembles the Soviet Great Terror.
Russia will fail to undermine Ukraine’s reputation on the international arena and press for lifting sanctions with such provocative acts.
I urge Russian authorities to honour the international law, in particular to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity of states and human rights.
I expect Russia to implement security clauses of Minsk accords including via Normandy Four procedures.
Ukraine has committed to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity exclusively by political and diplomatic means. That includes de-occupation of Crimea."