Troops withdraw to help Kiev vote: Russia
Iran Press TV
Wed May 21, 2014 5:15PM GMT
Russia's President Vladimir Putin says withdrawal of troops from regions near Ukraine was meant to help create favorable conditions for the Ukrainian presidential vote.
Putin said Wednesday that the pullout was also aimed at ending speculations that Moscow intends to send forces into Ukraine.
The Russian leader added that it would have been more sensible for the Ukrainian authorities to have a referendum that would approve a new constitution before holding the presidential election.
Furthermore, Putin stressed that Moscow will have difficulties dealing with the election winner if the current tensions in Ukraine continue, including fighting in the eastern regions.
The comments by Putin came after US Vice President Joe Biden threatened Russia, earlier in the day, with tougher sanctions if the election in Ukraine is disrupted.
Kiev is to hold its presidential vote on May 25 after months of political crisis, which erupted last November, when former president Viktor Yanukovych refrained from signing an Association Agreement with the EU in favor of closer ties with Russia.
The refusal triggered months of unrest and clashes with the police, which finally led to the ouster of Yanukovych on February 23. He then travelled to Russia, where he was given sanctuary.
Following Yanukovych's ouster, pro-Russia protests broke out in Ukraine's eastern and southern regions. The protests gained momentum after Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and became part of the Russian Federation following a referendum in March.
Since then two other regions in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk, declared independence on May 12 following local referendums, in which the regions' residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from Kiev.
CAH/AB
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
