YOSHKAR-OLA, June 24 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday said the responsibility for events in Ukraine lies on the former and current leaders of the country.
“Both the former and current leaders of the government are responsible for what is occurring today in Ukraine,” Medvedev said during a meeting with United Russia party members in Central Russia.
“And to a large degree, those who stoked the events in Kiev and aided in the government overthrow that happened at the beginning of the year are responsible,” Medvedev said.
According to Medvedev, stabilization of the situation in Ukraine depends on willingness of the current authorities to negotiate with representatives of the country’s eastern regions.
“We all want the situation in Ukraine to calm down and resume its natural course. So that the people who make decisions in Ukraine, namely the President, the parliament and the government, can hear those who have slightly different opinions on the events,” Medvedev stressed.
“Only in this case it will be possible to de-escalate tensions and ensure peace,” the prime minister stressed, adding that both those who live in the east and citizens of other regions suffer under the current circumstances.
The overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych in February and a subsequent regime change in Ukraine triggered a chain of protests in the country that later evolved into armed clashes between the government-backed forces and independence supporters.
Following weeks of running battles Petro Poroshenko who won the May 25 snap presidential election ordered last week a unilateral ceasefire until June 27.
Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Boroday, announced that self-defense forces would comply with the conditions of the ceasefire.
