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Putin Urges Western Pressure on Ukraine in Peace Effort Putin Urges Western Pressure on Ukraine in Peace Effort
(about 13 hours later)
MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia called on the United States and Europe on Saturday to pressure the Ukrainian government to comply with a cease-fire accord, saying that Russia would do what it could to influence separatists in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk but held no sway in Kiev, the capital. MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia called on the United States and Europe on Saturday to pressure the Ukrainian government to comply with a cease-fire accord, saying that Russia would do what it could to influence separatists in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk but held no sway in Kiev, the capital.
In an interview with Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper, before a scheduled visit to Italy, Mr. Putin blamed the failure to carry out the political components of the peace agreement on the government of President Petro O. Poroshenko. The accord was reached in February in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.In an interview with Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper, before a scheduled visit to Italy, Mr. Putin blamed the failure to carry out the political components of the peace agreement on the government of President Petro O. Poroshenko. The accord was reached in February in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
Mr. Putin’s suggestion that Russia does not control the authorities of the self-declared separatist republics in Donetsk and Luhansk contradicts Mr. Poroshenko and his Western allies, including the United States, Germany and France, who insist that the separatists are financed and directed by Russia.Mr. Putin’s suggestion that Russia does not control the authorities of the self-declared separatist republics in Donetsk and Luhansk contradicts Mr. Poroshenko and his Western allies, including the United States, Germany and France, who insist that the separatists are financed and directed by Russia.
Fighting flared last week in eastern Ukraine as frustration continued to build on all sides over the failure to secure a longer-term peace settlement.Fighting flared last week in eastern Ukraine as frustration continued to build on all sides over the failure to secure a longer-term peace settlement.
In the newspaper interview, Mr. Putin said he remained committed to the peace accord. “The document we agreed upon in Minsk, called Minsk II, is the best agreement and perhaps the only unequivocal solution to this problem,” Mr. Putin said. “We would never have agreed upon it if we had not considered it to be right, just and feasible.”In the newspaper interview, Mr. Putin said he remained committed to the peace accord. “The document we agreed upon in Minsk, called Minsk II, is the best agreement and perhaps the only unequivocal solution to this problem,” Mr. Putin said. “We would never have agreed upon it if we had not considered it to be right, just and feasible.”
He added: “On our part, we take every effort, and will continue to do so, in order to influence the authorities of the unrecognized, self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics. But not everything depends on us. Our European and U.S. partners should exert influence on the current Kiev administration. We do not have the power, as Europe and the United States do, to convince Kiev to carry out everything that was agreed on in Minsk.”He added: “On our part, we take every effort, and will continue to do so, in order to influence the authorities of the unrecognized, self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics. But not everything depends on us. Our European and U.S. partners should exert influence on the current Kiev administration. We do not have the power, as Europe and the United States do, to convince Kiev to carry out everything that was agreed on in Minsk.”
Mr. Poroshenko said Friday that Ukraine could not move forward with local elections and other political changes in the east until pro-Russian fighters and their weapons were withdrawn, and control of the border with Russia was restored to Ukraine.Mr. Poroshenko said Friday that Ukraine could not move forward with local elections and other political changes in the east until pro-Russian fighters and their weapons were withdrawn, and control of the border with Russia was restored to Ukraine.
“It is impossible to provide the election when the bandits and terrorists with guns are on the street,” he said. “This is not free and not fair,” he added, using the terminology favored by international election monitors to describe ideal balloting conditions.“It is impossible to provide the election when the bandits and terrorists with guns are on the street,” he said. “This is not free and not fair,” he added, using the terminology favored by international election monitors to describe ideal balloting conditions.
In another setback for the Ukrainian peace process, Heidi Tagliavini, a Swiss diplomat who had been the lead mediator on behalf of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, announced on Saturday that she was stepping down.In another setback for the Ukrainian peace process, Heidi Tagliavini, a Swiss diplomat who had been the lead mediator on behalf of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, announced on Saturday that she was stepping down.
No immediate reason was given for her departure, and it was unclear who would replace her. Ms. Tagliavini had won praise on all sides for her persistence in trying to shepherd the talks to a positive conclusion, although her efforts had been largely unsuccessful.No immediate reason was given for her departure, and it was unclear who would replace her. Ms. Tagliavini had won praise on all sides for her persistence in trying to shepherd the talks to a positive conclusion, although her efforts had been largely unsuccessful.
In the newspaper interview, a transcript of which was published on the Kremlin website on Saturday, Mr. Putin made some of his most expansive statements in recent weeks on the situation in eastern Ukraine, and he reiterated his longstanding view that the embattled regions should be granted substantial political autonomy.In the newspaper interview, a transcript of which was published on the Kremlin website on Saturday, Mr. Putin made some of his most expansive statements in recent weeks on the situation in eastern Ukraine, and he reiterated his longstanding view that the embattled regions should be granted substantial political autonomy.
“Specifically, there needs to be a constitutional reform to ensure the autonomous rights of the unrecognized republics,” Mr. Putin said. “The Kiev authorities do not want to call it autonomy — they prefer different terms, such as decentralization.“Specifically, there needs to be a constitutional reform to ensure the autonomous rights of the unrecognized republics,” Mr. Putin said. “The Kiev authorities do not want to call it autonomy — they prefer different terms, such as decentralization.
“Our European partners,” he continued, “those very partners who wrote the corresponding clause in the Minsk agreements, explained what should be understood as decentralization. It gives them the right to speak their language, to have their own cultural identity and engage in cross-border trade — nothing special, nothing beyond the civilized understanding of ethnic minorities’ rights in any European country.”“Our European partners,” he continued, “those very partners who wrote the corresponding clause in the Minsk agreements, explained what should be understood as decentralization. It gives them the right to speak their language, to have their own cultural identity and engage in cross-border trade — nothing special, nothing beyond the civilized understanding of ethnic minorities’ rights in any European country.”
Although Mr. Putin spoke of the situation in eastern Ukraine as if the rights of Russian-speaking citizens had been under threat, there has been little evidence of such discrimination. Russian is still widely spoken in Ukraine, including in Kiev.Although Mr. Putin spoke of the situation in eastern Ukraine as if the rights of Russian-speaking citizens had been under threat, there has been little evidence of such discrimination. Russian is still widely spoken in Ukraine, including in Kiev.
Still, Mr. Putin laid blame for the failure of the peace process on Mr. Poroshenko. Russia regularly refers to the Ukrainian government as having come to power in a coup, because of the ouster last year of Viktor F. Yanukovych, the pro-Russian president, after months of prolonged street protests. Demonstrators had expressed their anger over Mr. Yanukovych’s broken promise to sign sweeping political and economic agreements with the European Union, and over years of entrenched corruption.Still, Mr. Putin laid blame for the failure of the peace process on Mr. Poroshenko. Russia regularly refers to the Ukrainian government as having come to power in a coup, because of the ouster last year of Viktor F. Yanukovych, the pro-Russian president, after months of prolonged street protests. Demonstrators had expressed their anger over Mr. Yanukovych’s broken promise to sign sweeping political and economic agreements with the European Union, and over years of entrenched corruption.
Mr. Putin complained that Mr. Poroshenko would not negotiate directly with the separatist leadership in the east.Mr. Putin complained that Mr. Poroshenko would not negotiate directly with the separatist leadership in the east.
“The problem is that the current Kiev authorities don’t even want to sit down to talks with them,” Mr. Putin said. “And there is nothing we can do about it. Only our European and American partners can influence this situation. There is no need to threaten us with sanctions.”The European Union is considering whether to extend sanctions against Russia, which will expire at the end of July.“The problem is that the current Kiev authorities don’t even want to sit down to talks with them,” Mr. Putin said. “And there is nothing we can do about it. Only our European and American partners can influence this situation. There is no need to threaten us with sanctions.”The European Union is considering whether to extend sanctions against Russia, which will expire at the end of July.