On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent entities. This is a severe breach of international law. It is also a heavy blow for our diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict. For many years, France and Germany have tried to find a peaceful settlement, both in the context of the Normandy format and in the OSCE framework. Russia's unilateral action puts an end to these efforts.
These events might occur thousands of kilometres away from Thailand. But Russia's actions concern us all. They undermine and threaten the international order and the UN system as we know it. Asean is built on the respect of these principles. The Asean Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) of 1976 stipulates the following principles: mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations; the right of every state to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion and coercion; non-interference in the internal affairs of one another; settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means; and renunciation of threats or use of force.
France and Germany have reaffirmed these principles in their respective accessions to the TAC. We think it is important that the Russian government is made aware of the possible repercussions of its recent actions from many different parts of the world. Equally we call on other states not to follow Russia's illegal decision to recognise this proclaimed independence.
At the moment France and Germany are concentrating their efforts on preventing any further military escalation. Together with the European Union, we are preparing additional measures to exact economic and financial consequences -- but we are not planning military action. We aim to prevent a war, not fight one.
At this crucial juncture it is important that as many states as possible make it absolutely clear that these acts of aggression have no place in today's world. This is not just a European problem -- this is a global issue.
Georg Schmidt is Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany. Thierry Mathou is Ambassador of France.
