Germany, France to come up with pro-Russian plan on settling Ukraine crisis - French FM
5 March 2014, 20:55 -- French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that Berlin and Paris intended to come up with a road map plan aimed at settling the Ukrainian crisis. 'The plan stipulates the withdrawal of troops, disarming of militants, compliance with the Constitution and early elections,' Fabius said. He stressed that Ukraine should work both with the EU and Russia.
The foreign ministers of Russia, the United States, Britain, France and Germany have shared their opinions on the situation in Ukraine over a cup of coffee in Paris, Western media report, quoting diplomatic sources.
The talk took place on the sidelines of a meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon and lasted several minutes, a US State Department spokesperson told journalists. No further details have been immediately available.
Russia does not recognize presidential elections in Ukraine if they are conducted under terror - Putin
Russia may recognize outcomes of Ukrainian presidential elections if the vote of Ukrainian citizens is free and there is no terror, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Journalists asked Putin whether Russia might acknowledge results of Ukrainian presidential elections. 'That depends on the way in which they are held. If they are held against the backdrop of terror that we are now witnessing in Kiev, then we won't recognize them,' he said.
Russia ready to cooperate even with incumbent Ukrainian authorities
Moscow is ready to cooperate even with the incumbent Ukrainian authorities it considers illegal, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. 'By the way, we are exhibiting patience and readiness for certain cooperation even under such circumstances. We do not want to discontinue cooperation and I instructed the government several days ago to think about ways to carry on contacts even with those Kiev authorities that we consider illegal with the purpose of preserving contacts in the economy and industries,' Putin told reporters on Tuesday.
'We think that our actions are quite grounded and any threats towards Russia are counterproductive and harmful,' the Russian president stressed.
If Russia decides to use armed forces in Ukraine it will fully comply with int'l law - Putin
President Vladimir Putin said a decision to use military force in Ukraine, if made, will fully comply with international law. 'Even of we make the decision, if I make the decision to use military force, it will be legitimate,' Putin told reporters on Tuesday.
He said this decision will fully comply with 'the general norms of international law, since we have received a request from the legitimate president.'
The decision will also match Russia's obligations, Putin said.
'In this case it will coincide with our interests to defend the people we consider linked with us historically, in the sense that we have common culture and strong economic ties,' the Russian president said.
Current authorities in Kiev do not hold nationwide mandate to determine Ukraine's future - Putin
The incumbent Ukrainian authorities do not have the national mandate to conduct the country's economic and foreign policy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. 'We think that all citizens of Ukraine, irrespective of their place of residence, must enjoy equal rights to partake in the country's life and to decide the future of this country,' Putin told reporters on Tuesday.
'If I were those who consider themselves the [Ukrainian] legitimate authorities, I would have hurried up with the related procedures,' Putin said. 'They do not have the national mandate to conduct domestic, foreign and economic policy, [nor do they have the mandate] to decide the future of Ukraine,' he said.
Changes in former Soviet republics should happen in accordance with constitutions - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that changes in former Soviet republics should take place strictly in accordance with their constitutions. 'In the former Soviet republics, where the politics are very fragile and the economies are very weak, one has to strictly follow the constitution,' Putin told reporters on Tuesday. Going beyond constitutional norms 'will always be a big mistake,' he said.
There is no reason for military actions in Ukraine at the moment - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said there is currently no need to send Russian troops to Ukraine. 'As to the sending of troops, there is currently no such need,' Putin told reporters. 'However, there is such a possibility,' he said. ussian forces may be used in Ukraine under extreme circumstances only, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters in Novo-Ogaryovo on Tuesday. 'What can be the justification for using the armed forces? Certainly, extreme circumstances,' he said.
'We are not going to go to war with Ukrainian people. If we make this decision we will make it in order to protect Ukrainian people. How can army shoot at innocent people?' Vladimir Putin said.
Ukraine revolt 'an anti-constitutional coup and armed seizure of power' – Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the revolution in Ukraine 'an anti-constitutional coup and an armed seizure of power.'
'There's no denying it. The question is why it has been done,' he added.
'Are the current authorities legitimate? Parliament partially yes. The rest are not. From the legal point of view it's Yanukovych who is the legal president, said Vladimir Putin. 'The main thing is to give people the right to decide their fate.'
Voice of Russia, Interfax
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