MOSCOW, June 26 (RIA Novosti) - Extending the ceasefire and continuing negotiations is the only way to resolve the protracted crisis in Ukraine, according to Deputy Speaker Sergei Zheleznyak of Russia’s lower house of parliament.
“It is evident that it is impossible to fully resolve all the problems accrued and all principle issues declared at referendums in the southeast within seven days [of the ceasefire] . There is no other way of settling the situation between the Kiev authorities and the people of Novorossiya other than peaceful talks,” Zheleznyak told RIA Novosti Thursday.
Following the March 16 referendum in Crimea and the republic’s subsequent reunification with Russia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions also announced their decision to secede from Ukraine.
The Luhansk and Donetsk people’s republics declared themselves independent states after the May 11 referendum. The authorities of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) voted Wednesday to form a union with the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
The lawmaker said the use of the armed forces and other armed groups by the Kiev regime against the southeast is ineffective. Any attempts by Kiev to impose decisions on independence supporters will deepen the current conflict, Zheleznyak added.
“Our common goal is to ensure that bloodshed becomes history and the voice and expression of the will of people of Donetsk and Luhansk and other regions is heard,” the deputy speaker of the State Duma said.
The lawmaker stressed that the Kiev leadership should stick to its promises, or their policies may not be supported by voters, despite the preferences of the regions, Zheleznyak added.
On June 20, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered a cease fire for all military personnel for one week. Later, Donetsk and Luhansk independence forces also promised to stop all attacks until June 27.
In accordance with the ceasefire agreements, Kiev also said the Ukrainian army would not perform military flights near the operating sites of the Luhansk and Donetsk independence forces.
On Tuesday, independence and Ukrainian security forces accused each other of violating the truce.
During a four-party phone conversation with the leaders of Ukraine, France and Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday reiterated that the ceasefire period in Ukraine should be extended.
