Russia cannot persuade militiamen to disarm – Peskov

MOSCOW. May 3 (Interfax) – 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.