Events in Ukraine prove Russia's position on Crimea right – Putin's spokesperson
3 May 2014, 21:44 -- The latest events in Ukraine prove that Russia's position on Crimea was the only correct one, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday, May 3. 'We understand how justified and correct the actions taken by President Putin, Russia and the people of Crimea were,' he said. 'If Putin had not assumed a firm position and the people of Crimea had not voted for reunification with Russia, the bloodshed similar to that in the southeast of Ukraine could be happening now in Crimea,' he said, TASS reports.
Russia deeply regrets West's approval of punitive operation in southeast Ukraine - Putin's spokesman
Moscow has called 'cynicism' the position taken by Washington and a number of European capitals over the bloodshed in Odessa, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said. He also said that the Kiev's authorities are responsible for the deaths of people in Odessa.
'The justification of the punitive operation by those who only a few months ago would not let the legitimate president, Viktor Yanukovych, restore order using legal means, are the highest manifestation of cynicism,' Peskov told reporters on Saturday.
The Kremlin has callled 'ludicrous' the possibility of holding a presidential election in Ukraine amid growing violence, Dmitry Peskov said.
'After what happened in Odessa, against the background of the unwinding spiral of confrontation in the country's southeast, we do not understand what elections Kiev, European capitals and Washington are talking about,' Peskov told reporters on Saturday.
The Kremlin has laid direct responsibility for the Odessa tragedy with the authorities in Kiev.
'The authorities in Kiev are not only directly responsible, they are direct accomplices in these criminal actions. Their hands are full of blood,' Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Moscow is so far unclear how Russia would act amid growing confrontation in Ukraine. 'I cannot answer this question, this element is absolutely new to us,' Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
Moscow receives thousands of calls from southeast Ukraine, he said.
'People are calling in despair, asking for help, the overwhelming majority demand Russian help,' he said. 'All these calls are reported to Vladimir Putin,' Peskov said.
Russia and its President Vladimir Putin will continue the policy aimed at de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine, Dmitry Peskov said.
'President Putin, Russia will continue the policy aimed at de-escalation. We shall do whatever is possible and wherever it is possible so as to follow the de-escalation path step by step,' Peskov told reporters on Saturday.
Moscow has acknowledged finding no common ground with Western countries over Ukraine. 'To our great regret, we acknowledge the diametrically opposed points of view on what is hapenning, full lack of understanding of the processes that are occuring there (in Ukraine),' Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 'This is either due to the impossibility to obtain credible information or the reluctance to accept it,' he said.
'Such a radical change of position within just a few months is seen by us only as cynicism,' he reiterated. Such an attitude is 'being bred by involvement and responsibility in what is happening,' the president's spokesman said.
When asked by reporters which Western official said about the monopoly to use violence, Peskov recalled that this is what the head of the EU diplomacy, Catherine Ashton, said a day earlier.'Against the backdrop of the punitive operation, this statement is monstrous in itself: armed forces in the center of Europe shooting civilians, while Brussels claims about the government's monopoly to use violence,' he said.
Putin expresses condolences to Odessa victims, none to authorities
Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended his deep condolences and sympathy for those killed and injured as a result of a bloody tragedy in Odessa, his Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
'Regrettably, we cannot express condolences to the official Kyiv as there is no official Kyiv as such,' Peskov told reporters on Saturday. '(Putin) feels extremely concerned by how the situation is evolving and being interpreted in several countries of the global community,' the spokesman said.
'Putin feels deepest indignation at the actions of the Kyiv authorities, which can be interpreted as a crime,' his spokesman said.
Russia, other countries unable to influence southeastern Ukrainians amid direct threats to their lives – Kremlin
Neither Russia, nor any other country, can any longer influence citizens of Ukraine's southeast who feel their lives are in danger, the Russian president's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Saturday.
'From now on Russia or any other country, has lost their ability to influence these people, because it will now be impossible to talk them into laying down their weapons amid direct threats to their lives, threats coming from radicals, nationalists and armed forces that obey criminal orders and murder their own people,' Peskov told journalists, RIA reports.
Ukrainian military forces launched early Friday a full-scale assault on the eastern city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region, the focal point of pro-federalization rallies. Casualties were reported. Moscow condemned the recent outbreak of violence in the country and called the military operation initiated by Kiev authorities a punitive action which destroyed the last hope for the Geneva accords.
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