MOSCOW, April 14 (RIA Novosti) - The situation in Ukraine deteriorated after the European Union acknowledged the February coup in Kiev as a legitimate change of power, a socialist deputy in a regional French council has said.
“In defiance of the February 21 agreement signed by Ukraine’s political forces, Europe has recognized the coup d’état in Kiev as a legitimate change of power,” Julien Dray told the RMC radio station.
“As a result Europe was hit hard by its own actions. It is evident now that the entire population of eastern Ukraine also claims it does not accept this new government,” he said.
Dray added that one of the gravest lapses of the new authorities was the swift abolition of a law on Russian as an official language and the general reluctance to meet the demands of Ukraine’s eastern regions.
“The first thing the new government did when it came to power was to repeal the law recognizing Russian as a second official language. What they should have done then to quell the people was to cancel this decision and to acknowledge the rights of the Russian-speaking community. But this is not happening,” Dray added.
Speaking about EU policy, Dray said that its rhetoric in relation to Russia was ineffective.
“This is a complete mistake,” Dray claimed. He said that Europe should take a stance on the issue independent from US policy.
“One should draw the line between the EU policy and the one of President Obama, because his policy runs counter to European interests,” he added.
Dray said that to solve the Ukrainian stalemate three parties – Russia, France and Germany – should move to establish political dialogue.
Following months of street rallies, Ukraine’s Parliament backed by far-right movements voted to strip President Viktor Yanukovych of power in February. Yanukovych, who fled the country and is currently staying in Russia, called the moves a coup and insists he remains Ukraine’s legitimate president.
Soon after Yanukovych’s overthrow, the interim Ukrainian government amended the constitution and announced an early presidential election for May 25.
Moscow has described the events in Kiev as an illegitimate fascist coup and a military seizure of power. Russian officials blame the ongoing crisis in the country on Ukrainian nationalists and their aggressive rhetoric.
