Three former Ukrainian presidents sign open letter to Putin calling for talks

(Interfax – June 23, 2014) Interfax Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yuschenko have written an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin urging to begin negotiating process.

“We have signed an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin that it is necessary to stop aggression. Ukraine is ready for negotiations,” first Ukrainian President Kravchuk told reporters on June 22 after laying flowers at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier in Kyiv on the day of mourning and memory of war victims.

According to Kravchuk, it is currently important to implement the peaceful plan of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to stabilize the situation in the country.

“We are asking to listen, to stop and not to interfere in our domestic affairs,” Kravchuk said.

Former President Kuchma said that as of today the main task of the three former leaders was supporting the current Ukrainian president amid this difficult time.

“In my point of view, Ukraine is facing the main question today – to be or not to be,” Kuchma said.

Everyone realizes clearly that no peaceful proposals of Ukraine can be implemented without the involvement of Russia and due to this the three former presidents decided to address Putin, Kuchma said.

“Undeclared war against Ukraine” is currently under way and it is very important to show solidarity with the current Ukrainian president in his efforts to restore peace in Ukraine, former President Yuschenko said.