Ukrainian parliamentarian Petro Poroshenko, who, according to existing polls, has won the presidential elections in Ukraine, said he is convinced that dialogue with Russia can be conducted in any format after the legitimacy of the new administration is confirmed.
“I believe the key reason that Russia gave for the absence of direct
dialogue between Ukraine and Russia is the position stated by Russia – I
will not judge whether this position is substantiated – the
questionable legitimacy of the Ukrainian administration, and now that
the people of Ukraine have demonstrated a very firm and tough position
to back the sovereignty and integrity, the unity and unitary system of
our country, which was also demonstrated during the elections, Russia
just doesn’t have any arguments to not recognize these elections,”
Poroshenko said on Inter television on May 25 evening.
“We believe that it will be as effective to hold these meetings [with
Russia] in the format of the Geneva quartet. That is, U.S.-EU-Ukraine
and Russia, although we don’t rule out other formats,” he said.
“I would like to say that the key issue on which Ukraine will not
give up is the tough position on Crimea. We consider Crimea to be
occupied. We have never recognized and will never recognize the
referendum that was conducted and we, together with the whole world,
believe that Crimea has always been and remains Ukrainian territory,”
Poroshenko said.
