Kiev warned against irreversible steps
Iran Press TV
Wed Apr 9, 2014 6:4PM GMT
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Kiev's interim leaders against taking any irreversible steps amid the crisis in Ukraine.
Putin made the comments on Wednesday as the Kiev government has threatened with force pro-Russian protesters in eastern and southern parts of Ukraine.
'I hope that the acting (authorities) will not do anything that can't be fixed later,' said Putin.
The Russian president also urged a positive outcome of next week's talks between Russia, Ukraine, the European Union and the United States on the crisis in Ukraine.
Moscow has argued that tensions in Ukraine could only be calmed, if Kiev authorities conduct constitutional reforms to grant the Russian-speaking regions more independence through federalization.
This comes as pro-Russian residents in both eastern and southern Ukrainian cities, have held protests demanding a vote of self-determination.
Over the past days, protesters have seized a number of government buildings in the cities of Lugansk, Donetsk and Kharkiv.
Pro-Russia demonstrations gained momentum in the Eastern European country after Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and formally applied to become part of the Russian Federation following a referendum on March 16, in which nearly 97 percent of the participants voted for rejoining Russia, with a turnout of over 83 percent.
The move sparked angry reactions from the United States and the European Union, both imposing sanctions against a number of Russian officials and authorities in Crimea.
CAH/AB
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