Updated 8:39 p.m. Moscow Time
MOSCOW, September 21 (RIA Novosti) — The plan to construct a wall at the Russian-Ukrainian border by Ukrainian Prime Minister would make restoring normal relations between Moscow and Kiev impossible, the Head of Russia's Presidential Administration Sergei Ivanov said in an interview to Rossiyskaya Gazeta released Sunday.
"The construction of a wall, to my mind, will make impossible the very restoration of any kind of relations… I am sure there will be no wall in the end. Rhetoric is rhetoric and life is life," the official said.
Ivanov also compared the Ukrainian wall with a "low-budget Mannerheim Line," referring to defensive fortifications build by Finland in 1920-1930s, supposed to deter the Soviet troops.
Earlier in September, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Kiev started work on a "Wall" project, which consists in constructing an actual state border between Ukraine and Russia. Prime minister also underscored that Kiev needs to adopt a new military stance, which would consider Russia as an aggressor nation, threatening the national security and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Late August, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that Russia invaded Ukraine and Russian troops were allegedly assisting the pro-independence forces in southeastern Ukraine — a claim, supported by the West. Moscow branded the accusations as groundless with top officials, including President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arguing that Moscow is not involved in the Ukrainian internal conflict.
