26 May 2014

Russia ‘ready for dialogue’ with Ukraine’s Poroshenko

Russia says it is ready for dialogue with Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s new president but warns Kiev against increasing armed operations against separatists in the east of the country.

Mr Poroshenko, a billionaire chocolate manufacturer, claimed victory in Ukraine’s presidential election on Sunday with more than 50 per cent of the vote. Though the official result is yet to be announced, exit polls suggest Mr Poroshenko secured 56 per cent of the vote.

Taking into account the expression of will that has taken place, which we respect, we will be prepared to establish pragmatic, equitable dialogue on the existing foundation. Sergei Lavrov

On Monday, Russia said it would respect the “will” of the Ukrainian people.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference: “As the president (Putin) has said more than once, we are ready for dialogue with representatives of Kiev, we are ready for dialogue with Petro Poroshenko.”

The foreign minister signalled that Russia would engage with Kiev, including fulfilling trade agreements.

“Taking into account the expression of will that has taken place, which we respect, we will be prepared to establish pragmatic, equitable dialogue on the existing foundation – by which I mean the fulfilment of all existing agreements, including in trade and the gas sector,” he said.

Russia has previously criticised the interim government in Kiev, accusing “neo-fascists” of taking power from the government.

On Monday German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said that Russia could play a key role in stabilising Ukraine.

“It is also important for Russia to have a constructive relationship with the new leadership that emerges from this election,” Steffen Seibert said.

Eastern unrest

However, unrest remains in eastern Ukraine.

In the eastern Donbass coalfield, where militants shut polling stations cutting off some 10 percent of the national electorate from the vote, rebels scoffed at the “fascist junta” and announced a plan to cleanse their “people’s republic” of “enemy troops”.

On Monday, the international airport in Donetsk, the biggest city of the Donbass, closed after dozens of armed separatists visited the terminal in the early hours to demand the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the area.

Reports later emerged of Ukrainian warplanes carrying out airstrikes against pro-Russian rebels occupying the airport, sparking a battle in and around the complex.

Russia urged the Kiev government to “halt military operations against its own population” and called on the OSCE to investigate reports of armed clashes in Donetsk.

On Thursday, 14 Ukrainian army soldiers were killed, and 30 badly injured, in four separate attacks in eastern Ukraine.