Putin calls Kiev intervention a 鈥榞rave crime鈥
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RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine’s leaders yesterday of committing a “grave crime” by using the army to try to quell unrest in the east of the country, and did not rule out sending in Russian troops.
But, addressing Russians in his annual televised phone-in, Putin said he hoped he would not need to take such a step, and that diplomacy could succeed in resolving the standoff.
Putin pointedly reminded Europe of its dependence on Russian gas, and defended Russia’s annexation of Crimea as, in part, a response to NATO’s eastward expansion.
While recalling that parliament had granted him the right to use military force in Ukraine, the Kremlin chief said: “I really hope that I do not have to exercise this right and that we are able to solve all today’s pressing issues via political and diplomatic means.”
Ukraine sent in troops this week to try to recapture a series of eastern towns from pro-Russian militants.
“Instead of realizing that there is something wrong with the Ukrainian government and attempting dialogue, they made more threats of force ... this is another very grave crime by Kiev’s current leaders,” Putin said.
“I hope that they are able to realize what a pit, what an abyss, the current authorities are in and dragging the country into.”
Russia refuses to recognise the Ukrainian leadership that took power in February after mass protests forced President Viktor Yanukovich to flee.
Putin said the campaign to elect a new Ukrainian president next month was being conducted “in an absolutely unacceptable way,” with some candidates being beaten up.
“If everything continues in this way, then of course we cannot recognize as legitimate what is happening and what will happen after May 25,” he said.
But he also stressed the importance of talks in Geneva yesterday between Russia, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union.
The US and the EU have imposed visa bans and asset freezes on dozens of Russians in retaliation for the annexation of Crimea, but avoided sanctions that could hurt their own companies.
Putin doubted whether Europe could end its dependence on Russian gas.
“We sell gas in European countries which have around 30-35 percent of their gas balance covered by supplies from Russia. Can they stop buying Russian gas? In my opinion, it is impossible,” he said.
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