RIA Novosti: Ukrainian president “recognized by everyone” – Russian foreign minister

(RIA Novosti – Moscow, October 19, 2014) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that he would not dramatize Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s public statements ahead of the elections to the Supreme Council [parliament], although some of them are “hitting below the belt”.

“As regards public statements (by Poroshenko), the election campaign is under way in Ukraine, passions are running high, and arguments ‘hitting below the belt’ are being used,” the minister said in a interview with [Gazprom-Media-owned] NTV television channel.

According to Lavrov, many in Ukraine trying to play the nationalist “card” and fan up tensions in society. “Therefore I would not attach too much importance to public statements. Let us wait for the elections, let us see the new configuration of the Ukrainian parliament. I hope that the wisdom of the Ukrainian people will prevail,” he noted.

Lavrov stressed that Moscow views Poroshenko as the elected president of Ukraine

“He is recognized by everyone in this capacity. Russian President Vladimir Putin maintains a regular dialogue with him, they met in person at various events, they have established a productive telephone contact,” the Russian minister said.

[featured image is file photo]