Russia-EU summit: Moscow won't interfere in Ukraine's internal affairs - Putin
28 January 2014, 20:26
Russia will not interfere in Ukraine's internal affairs and believes that too many mediators could only multiply the many problems facing the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Putin gives joint press conference with Barroso, Rompuy at EU-Russia summit.
'Concerning advice for Ukraine on what to do and how. I think the Ukrainian people can sort this out themselves. At least Russia will never interfere in this,' Putin said at a press conference following an EU-Russia summit in Brussels on Tuesday.
'I can only imagine how our European partners would have reacted if amid a crisis, say, in Greece or in Cyprus, our foreign minister had appeared at an anti-European rally and started making calls. We believe this is not very good in general, and, taking into consideration certain specifics of relations between Russia and Ukraine, this is simply unacceptable and impossible for us,' Putin said.
Russia's concerns about EU-Ukraine agreement not political maneuvering-Putin
According to the President, terms of this agreement entail risks for Russia's internal market because the country has a free trade zone with Ukraine and agreements of the EU-Ukraine deal differ from those reached by Russia during the process of joining the WTO, for example, an agreement on semi-knocked down assembly.
Ukrainian opposition as well as govt should be urged to use civilized methods-Putin
In demanding that no force should be used and that civilized methods should be chosen in settling the conflict in Ukraine, Europe should address these requirements not only to official Ukrainian authorities but also to the opposition, Russian president said.
Russia would like to know what economic policy future Ukrainian govt will pursue-Putin
'We, in Russia, have heard some criticism addressed to the Russian government that it is squandering money without demanding structural reforms. We had such an agreement with [outgoing Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola] Azarov's government,' Putin said at a press conference following an EU-Russia summit on Tuesday.
By extending loan to Ukraine, lowering gas price, Russia backs Ukrainian people, not govt - Putin
Russia will not revise the loan it recently extended to Ukraine and the decision to reduce the price at which Ukraine buys Russian gas, no matter who comes to power in Kiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
'We presume that both the loan we have mentioned and the gradual reduction of energy prices, primarily gas, were dictated by the need and desire to support the Ukrainian people rather than a specific government,' Putin said at a press conference following an EU-Russia summit in Brussels on Tuesday.
Russia is ready to support Ukraine regardless of government - Putin
Russia will not initiate a revision of its agreements with Ukraine concerning loans and the price for energy resources even if the opposition comes to power in this country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
'Our decision to provide financial assistance to Ukraine is related to possible consequences that could have taken place if we had decided otherwise', Putin said.
'In reply to the question as to whether we will revise our agreements on the loans and on energy if the opposition comes to power, I'll tell you directly that we won't,' Putin said at a press conference following an EU-Russia summit in Brussels on Tuesday when asked whether Russia would demand a revision of the gas contract and loan agreements with Ukraine if an opposition government comes to power in this country.
Putin sees no disagreements between European, Eurasian integration processes
Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that there are no disagreements between the European and Eurasian integration processes.
'It's necessary to set larger and more ambitious goals, one of them being the convergence of the European and Eurasian integration processes. I am sure there are no disagreements between these two processes,' Putin said in summing up outcomes of an EU-Russia summit on Tuesday.
Russia invites EU to consider setting up free trade area with Eurasian Union - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that an expert dialogue should be started on the possibility of setting up a free trade area between the European Union and the nascent Eurasian Economic Union.
'We have invited the European Union leadership to analyze the possibility of forming a free trade area between the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union being set up by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan,' Putin said following an EU-Russia summit on Tuesday.
Russia-EU consultations on Eastern Partnership would be useful - Putin
Future consultations between Russia and the European Union regarding the Eastern Partnership matters will be useful, and such consultations have been long overdue, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
'As concerns an agreement on our consultations regarding the Eastern Partnership, our European partners and we have agreed that this would be extremely useful,' Putin said at a press conference following an EU-Russia summit in Brussels on Tuesday.
Voice of Russia, Interfax
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