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High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev, Ukraine on December 16, 2014. Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Guest post written by Olexander Motsyk

Mr. Motsyk is Ukraine's ambassador to the United States. He is a career diplomat with over 30 years of experience in international relations

This year we witnessed two decades of genuine efforts to build a reliable post-Cold War security system shattered by the desire of one country, driven by its imperial ambitions, to reestablish the long-gone division lines of the previous century.

Twenty years ago, in December 1994 in Budapest, Ukraine received security assurances against threats or use of force against its territorial integrity or political independence. These promises were made by the Russian Federation, the United States and the United Kingdom, all of whom signed the Budapest Memorandum. In return, Ukraine gave up the third largest nuclear weapons arsenal in the world, relying on the assurances that it had received and counting on the world powers for protection in the case of aggression.

In March 2014, the Russian Federation blatantly violated its obligations, as well as fundamental norms of international law that form the foundation of modern security architecture. It illegally occupied and annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and started a hybrid war in eastern Ukraine, which it continues to fuel by deploying regular Russian troops and mercenaries, arming its proxies with heavy weapons, tanks and missile systems, funding, training and supporting terrorist fighters. Russia also employed its propaganda machine to spread a smokescreen of lies to hide its invasion and armed aggression against another sovereign nation.

Thousands including innocent civilians have died and been wounded, hundreds of thousands have left their homes, and independence and security in Ukraine has been put under permanent threat.

Despite Russias promises to stand down, made in Geneva in April and later in Minsk, it has continued to play an aggressive geopolitical game, sending additional ammunition and fresh troopsunder the guise of so-called humanitarian convoys. After each such convoy, which crossed Ukraines border without permission, terrorist attacks intensified dramatically. Instead of removing its troops and cutting its supplies to rebels, Moscow refused to seal the border and in effect blocked international efforts to do so byThe Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The Kremlins clear goal is to prevent Ukraine joining the European family of liberal democratic nations. Nevertheless, the people of Ukraine have reaffirmed their choice in favor of European integration. They have elected a new President and Parliament through fair and democratic process and showed their readiness to fight for their European choice, freedom and independence.

Russias aggression against Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity has been widely condemned by the international community. Today, Russia is under strong political and economic pressure. The price of theRussian leadershipsgeopolitical adventures is high. Nevertheless, we should be patient and united on a path of diplomatic resolution in this conflict. The Ukrainian government is strongly committed to a peaceful solution, including through high-level multilateral talks, as well as through the Trilateral Contact Group of senior representatives of Ukraine, Russia and OSCE trying to engage Russia-backed separatists in a meaningful dialogue.

What will happen if Russia refuses to deescalate? Our response should be resolute and systematic. We hope that the American leadership will follow the course outlined in the strong and bipartisan Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 which was approved by both chambers of the US Congress last week. We expect that international community will be further united in the diplomatic efforts to force Russia to stop its aggression and return to the realm of international law. Existing international norms must be reaffirmed, the Minsk accords which provide a solution to the present crisis must be fulfilled by Russia, and the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea, must be restored.

Link:
Ukraine Needs New Security Guarantees