Vienna - Russia will always defend ethnic Russians in Ukraine and the Ukrainians who feel inseparable ties with Russia, said Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 24 in Vienna, Austria.
“The recall of this decree (by the Federation Council, allowing the use of Russian armed forces abroad) does not mean at all that we intend to pay no attention to what is happening (in Ukraine),” Putin said after high-level talks in Austria on June 24.
Russia will always defend both “ethnic Russians in Ukraine, and that part of the Ukrainian population and people who feel their inseparable links – ethnical, as well as cultural – with Russia and feel part of the broader Russian world,” said the Russian president.
“And we will, of course, not only watch closely but also react adequately. I hope the Russian armed forces will not be required,” Putin said.
He stressed that Russia wants to create conditions for peace talks in Ukraine, which is why the head of state asked the upper house to recall the decree allowing the use of Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
