Russia has effectively lost influence over self-defense forces in Ukraine and cannot settle the situation on its own, Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
“Western sponsors (of the Kyiv authorities) are making a reservation
all the time that self-defense forces in the southeast of the country
are armed and show armed resistance. From now own Russia has effectively
lost its influence of these people, like any other country has, because
it will be impossible to persuade them to disarm and end resistance in
the face of a direct threat to their life,” Peskov told reporters on
Saturday.
All this is driving the situation into a deadlock, he said.
“Despite its coherent attempts to follow the path of resolution, the
path of dialogue, Russia has encountered provocative actions not only
from Kyiv, but from its western sponsors as well,” the spokesman said.
Russia cannot handle the settlement process alone, “while Kyiv and
its western sponsors are effectively provoking bloodshed and bear direct
responsibility for that,” he said.
“They must understand that the responsibility lies precisely with them,” he said.
