MOSCOW. Feb 9 (Interfax) - The head of the Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee, Konstantin Kosachyov, hopes that European countries will not back the United States, if Washington decides to supply arms to Ukraine, and will realize what role the West has played so far in the crisis.
"European nations are against arms supplies to Ukraine and will not support the U.S., if such a decision is made. I hope this firm European position reflects a realization that there is no military option for resolving the Ukrainian crisis," he told reporters, commenting on the outcomes of the Munich Security Conference.
Europe is beginning to realize its responsibility for the events in Ukraine, the senator said.
Sooner or later, a solution will be found to the Ukrainian, and, overall crisis, he said. The situation Europe has found itself in is the result of its non-critical attitude towards the current Ukrainian government, the senator said.
"Nevertheless, the situation inspires minimal optimism, with many [Conference] speakers saying that Russia cannot be excluded from the negotiating process. There is a opportunity for political dialogue, and European politicians are increasingly aware of it," Kosachyov said.
He hopes that after Munich, as the Normandy format and other negotiations progress, there will be a rapprochement between Russia and a united Europe, even if the U.S. is unhappy about it.
"European security cannot be divided into regional security units. We need to agree and work together," Kosachyov said.
The Ukrainian conflict will not end unless this country's government starts talking to its citizens in Donetsk, Luhansk and other parts of the southeast, he said.
"They need to agree on how to live together as part of a territorially integral Ukraine, with due regard for the interests of all people in the country. This should the subject matter of political dialogue," the committee chairman said.