MOSCOW, May 6 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss on Wednesday the Ukrainian crisis with Swiss President Didier Burkhalter, the current Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
“The main attention during the conversation is expected to be drawn to the discussion of the crisis in Ukraine. It is also expected that the leaders of two countries will discuss key issues [concerning] Russian-Swiss cooperation including in the context of 2014 celebrated as the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
According to the Kremlin’s press office, the meeting in Moscow will also focus on the Russian government’s projects as one of the key manifestations of Putin’s program objectives, published in May 2012. The so-called “May Decrees” largely summarize Putin’s manifesto released during the election campaign, including long-term reforms in the country’s economy, defense industry, the army, education, housing, healthcare, science and demography.
The number of civil casualties in Ukraine has been climbing steadily since Friday as the Kiev regime continues to tighten its grip on the southeastern territories as part of an "active phase" of an ongoing military operation. Last week, Ukraine saw the bloodiest violence since the February overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych, with dozens killed in clashes across the country and scores of anti-coup activists burned alive inside an Odessa building.
The press service of EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton earlier said Ukraine should retain monopoly on the use of force within its borders.
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the military operation, calling it a punitive action which was destroying the last hope for the April 17 Geneva accords. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev urged Kiev authorities to come to their senses and stop the slaughter of their own citizens.
