- Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/PUTIN Putin tells Italian paper Russia backs Ukraine peace deal
- Date: 7th June 2015
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JUNE 5, 2015) (RUSSIAN POOL) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "First, about the mistress. (OVER ITALIAN JOURNALIST SMILING) In this kind of a relationship with a woman, that is, if you assume (BACK TO PUTIN) no obligations, you have no right to claim any obligations from your partner. (OVER JOURNALISTS) We have never viewed E
- Embargoed: 22nd June 2015 13:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA80AT7UAF2GVSY5C4A7IJPPOBO
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- Story Text: Russia fully backs the Minsk peace agreements in Ukraine, but progress is being stalled by Kiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview to the journalists of Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Friday (June 5).
Answering the questions about Russia's relations with Europe Putin followed the journalist's comparison of it to relations between the lovers.
"First, about the mistress. In this kind of a relationship with a woman, that is, if you assume no obligations, you have no right to claim any obligations from your partner," Putin said.
"We have never viewed Europe as a mistress. I am quite serious now. We have always proposed a serious relationship. And now I have an impression that Europe is trying to build relations with us on a material basis exclusively in its own favour," he added.
Asked about the situation in Ukraine's East Putin said ceasefire agreements signed in February were "right, just and feasible."
"I want to underline that Russia is interested in and will strive to ensure the full and unconditional implementation of all Minsk Agreements and I believe there is there is no other way to solving (the crisis) today," Putin said.
His comments came a few days after the most serious outbreak of fighting in eastern Ukraine since February's ceasefire, which has cast doubt on the durability of the peace deal.
Putin said that large-scale hostilities in eastern Ukraine had on the whole ceased and a pull-back of heavy weapons implemented, despite occasional shooting and casualties.
He also said it was time to begin implementing the Minsk agreements, referring to clauses requiring constitutional reform to ensure autonomy for the rebel regions in eastern Ukraine, a law on municipal elections there and a law on amnesty in co-ordination with the regions' authorities.
"The problem is that the current Kiev authorities don't even want to sit down to talks with them. And there is nothing we can do about it. Only our European and American partners can influence this situation," Putin told journalists.
"And one should not threaten us with any sanctions. We have nothing to do with it. This is not our position. We want to achieve the implementation of these agreements. Economic and social rehabilitation of these territories should be started," he said.
Putin also said that Kiev's cutting off of economic ties with the rebel territories was causing a humanitarian disaster, and said the European Union should fulfil its obligations to restore the banking system in the region.
"There is a humanitarian catastrophe there. And everyone pretends nothing is going on. Since we are talking about what can or must be done, and by whom, I believe that the European Union could surely provide greater financial assistance to Ukraine."
When asked about what he thinks caused crisis in Ukraine, Putin said the crisis may have been organised by the U.S. on purpose, adding he did not that for sure. He also said there were no reasons to be afraid of Russia's aggression against Europe.
"These were not we who did that. And I want to tell you one should not be afraid of Russia. The world has changed so much that a person of a sound mind cannot even imagine such a major military conflict today. We have things to do, trust me."
Putin was also asked about last year's annexation of Ukraine's Crime peninsula, comparing the situation to the one around Kosovo.
"All our actions, including those with the use of force were aimed not at tearing away this territory from Ukraine but at giving the people living there an opportunity to express their opinion on how they want to live their lives. And I want to underline once again, as I said before many times in case it is allowed to be done by Kosovo Albanians, Kosovars, why this is prohibited to Russians, Ukrainians, Crimea Tatars who live in Crimea?"
When asked if there is anything in his life that he regrets about, Putin though for a couple of seconds and then blessed God for the fact he does not have any regrets.
"I will be quite frank with you. I cannot recollect anything of the kind. It seems that, by the grace of God, I have nothing to regret in my life." - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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