Moscow respects expression of Donetsk, Lugansk residents' will - Kremlin
12 May 2014, 12:04 -- Russia was closely following the preparations for and the course of the referendums in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine, and respects the choice made by the population, the Kremlin said. 'We have taken note of high voter turnout despite attempts to derail the voting and we condemn the force used, including military hardware, against civilians, which lead to fatalities,' the Kremlin said.
'Moscow respects the will of the population of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions and hopes that the practical implementation of the outcome of the referendums will proceed along civilized lines, without repeat outbreaks of violence and through dialogue between representatives of Kiev, Donetsk and Lugansk,' the Kremlin press service said in a statement.
'In the interests of establishing such a dialogue all mediation efforts will be welcome, including by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,' the Kremlin said, Interfax reports.
Putin to formulate his attitude to referenda in Ukraine's south-east on their results
Russian President Vladimir Putin will formulate his attitude to the referenda, held on Sunday, on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions, 'on the strength of their results', presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told the newspaper Kommersant. What the Russian President's decision will be 'is difficult to forecast', Peskov added.
Asked by the newspaper whether Putin's attitude would be influenced by the fact that he himself had asked the federalization supporters to postpone the referendum until a later date, the presidential press secretary pointed out as follows: 'Not asked but made such a recommendation.'
'However, it was difficult to heed the recommendation, even considering the Russian President's prestige. Taking into account the real combat actions, the residents (there) had to act according to their own plan and proceeding from the actual situation,' Peskov said.
The United States and the European Union (EU) have already declared that they do not recognize the results of voting on the status of Lugansk and Donetsk Regions and warned about the possibility of applying economic sanctions against Russia, if Ukraine's presidential elections, scheduled for May 25, get frustrated owing to the voting in Ukraine's east. Peskov described reproaches levelled at Russia by the US and the EU as an 'absolute folly'.
'Why could not the West prevent the use of armoured personnel carriers in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk and avoid the gunning down of civilians? They did not use their influence and they do not give a hang while Russia is blamed for everything,' he emphasized.
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