Friday, May 23, 2014

Vladi­mir Putin says Russia will respect result of Ukraine’s presidential election

KIEV, Ukraine — Russia will respect the result of Ukraine’s presidential election, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday, as fighting continued in the country’s restive eastern regions two days ahead of the crucial poll. 

The conciliatory sentiment raised hopes that Russia will be willing to work with new authorities in Ukraine after months of denouncing as illegitimate the acting government that replaced pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted in February amid popular protests.


“We understand and see that people in Ukraine want the country to come out of this lengthy crisis,” Putin said at a conference in St. Petersburg. “We also want the situation to become calmer. We will respect the choice made by the people of Ukraine.”

He also said he hoped that his nation’s relations with the United States, currently at Cold War-era lows, improve after Ukraine’s crisis is resolved. But, he said, “we can’t force anyone to love us.”

There were reports Friday of further clashes between pro-government and anti-government militias near the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, a day after intense fighting in the region killed at least 13 soldiers and raised tensions ahead of Sunday’s vote.

Local media also reported heavy shelling Friday in the rebel stronghold of Slovyansk. A 10-minute video posted online, ostensibly from Slovyansk, showed smoke rising from points across a residential landscape amid the repetitive thuds of artillery fire.



A top Russian military commander said Russia would respond to NATO’s troop buildup in Poland and the Baltics, where alliance forces are conducting exercises. The statement by Valery Gerasimov, head of Russia’s Armed Forces General Staff, added to tensions between Russia and the West that have reached Cold War heights.

“In this situation, we cannot ignore these events. We have to take measures in response,” Gerasimov told reporters Friday at an international security conference in Moscow, Interfax reported......[washingtonpost.com]

23/5/14
--
-
Related:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Only News

Featured Post

US Democratic congresswoman : There is no difference between 'moderate' rebels and al-Qaeda or the ISIS

United States Congresswoman and Democratic Party member Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday revealed that she held a meeting with Syrian Presiden...

Blog Widget by LinkWithin