Interfax: Kremlin rows back from Putin’s talk of “statehood” for southeast Ukraine
(Interfax – August 31, 2014) The Kremlin’s press spokesman has clarified remarks made by President Vladimir Putin about “statehood” for the separatist parts of southeast Ukraine.
Dmitriy Peskov “explained that when he was talking about the need for Kiev to start talks with the militias in Novorossiya, Vladimir Putin was talking not about the region’s status but an inclusive dialogue by the Ukrainian authorities”, Interfax news agency reported on 31 August.
When asked by journalists if Putin meant negotiations on Novorossiya’s status in his latest interview, Peskov replied: “Absolutely not. That is entirely clear from what the president said and that is an absolutely incorrect interpretation.”
The interview was to state-controlled Channel One TV, parts of which were reported earlier in the day by RIA Novosti news agency ahead of being broadcast in Moscow. (See “End to Ukraine conflict depends on “statehood” for southeast – Putin”, published by BBC Monitoring on 31 Aug 14)
“We have to aspire to implement the plan on which we agreed. There has to be an immediate move towards substantive negotiations, not on technical issues but on the political organization of society and statehood for the southeast of Ukraine so as to ensure that the legitimate interests of the people who live are definitely upheld,” Putin was quoted as saying.
But according to Peskov, a number of media have misunderstood the president’s call for talks to start as soon as possible.
“This has been interpreted as the president talking about statehood for southeast Ukraine. If you simply read his remarks, then that is clearly not what he was saying,” Peskov told journalists in Chelyabinsk, the Urals, where Putin is visiting. “The president was saying that the talks should be as inclusive as possible, the need for which has long been stressed in documents that have been signed in various formats.”
Asked if Novorossiya, the separatist-controlled area, should remain part of Ukraine and if Ukraine should decide its status, Peskov added: “Of course, only Ukraine can reach agreement with Novorossiya on taking into account the interests of the people of Novorossiya, and only in that way can a political settlement be reached.”
He continued: “These are the same inclusive talks that should define the relationship with the eastern regions, that is talks within Ukraine concerning Ukraine’s own structure. How to take into account the interests of the eastern regions, the interests of Novorossiya, how and to what extent, using what mechanisms and so on – that’s what was meant.”
