ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir
Putin said Saturday that Russia will respect the results of Ukraine's
presidential election on Sunday.
Russia will work with Ukraine's new authorities after the election,
Putin told reporters at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Putin said that he is ready to hold talks with Ukraine's incoming
government and that a new Cold War with the West over Ukraine is
unlikely.
Putin also said that he is concerned about threats by "radicals" in Ukraine to interrupt Russian natural gas supplies to Europe.
Putin noted that sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine issue
are counterproductive and do not accord with international law.
Isolating a country like Russia is not possible, said the Russian
president, adding that sanctions will lead the Russian, European, global
economy to turbulence that is in no one's interests.
He reiterated that a new Cold War over Ukraine crisis is unlikely.
He said Russia is ready for a constructive dialogue with Ukraine over
the price of Russian gas, but asserted that the dialogue should not be
carried out though baseless demands and ultimatums.
Ukraine's presidential election is set to take place on Sunday
despite waves of violence and political instability in the country's
eastern regions, where government forces have launched operations
against insurgents to regain control.
A total of 21 candidates would compete for the country's top post,
with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and businessman Petro
Poroshenko emerging as front-runners.
The election was called after former President Viktor Yanukovych was
forced out of office in February and fled to Russia soon afterwards. Related: Hollande, Merkel say taking note of Russia's pledge to respect Ukrainian vote
PARIS, May 24 (Xinhua) -- French president Francois Hollande and
German Chancellor Angela Merkel had phone talks on Saturday with Russian
president Vladimir Putin over the due presidential election in Ukraine.
On the eve of the run-off, the three leaders "... agreed that the
vote should take place tomorrow with the best conditions to ensure
stability in Ukraine." Full story Ukraine welcomes Russia's readiness for cooperation
KIEV, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Friday
welcomed Russia's readiness to work with the new Ukrainian leadership
after an upcoming presidential election.
"If it really happens, we will welcome not only Russia's
announcement, but also its concrete steps toward the recognition of the
Ukrainian leadership," Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia told
reporters. Full story Ukraine instability benefits some countries: Russian defense chief
MOSCOW, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Some countries deliberately stoked
tensions in Ukraine to advance their geopolitical goals, Russian Defense
Minister Sergei Shoigu told the 3rd international security conference
here.
"Regional instability may be advantageous for certain countries as a
convenient pretext for extensive reconfiguration of the existent
security architecture," Interfax news agency quoted Shoigu as saying. Full story end quote from:
...
• Putin said Saturday that Russia will respect the results of Ukraine's
presidential election on Sunday. • Putin noted that sanctions imposed
on Russia over the Ukraine issue are counterproductive.
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