Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko to display goodwill and statesmanlike wisdom and immediately stop the military operation in the southeastern part of Ukraine.
Speaking to journalists in Deauville, France, on Friday evening,
Putin was asked what he believes needs to be done to stop hostilities in
this part of Ukraine.
“I think this is the Ukrainian leadership’s goodwill, or if you will,
statesmanlike wisdom. It needs to be displayed. This operation should
be stopped immediately, and a ceasefire needs to be declared
immediately,” Putin said.
“It can’t be any other way. If Right Sector takes part in combat
activities – and this is an unofficial military unit – takes their own
soldiers, official Ukrainian armed forces servicemen, to the field and
shoots them without judicial safeguards only for their refusal to shoot
at the people… Or seize a hospital and shoot the wounded… Can this be
considered normal conditions for a negotiating process? No. This needs
to be stopped immediately,” he said.
“We expect a thorough investigation into all crimes, including the crimes in Odesa,” he said.
“Certainly, I said this to my numerous partners in today’s negotiations,” he said.
