Dramatic headlines are crossing about Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for “statehood” for Eastern Ukraine in an interview with Russian TV.
Talks should be held immediately “and not just on technical issues but on the political organisation of society and statehood in southeastern Ukraine,” Putin said in an interview with Channel 1 state television.
If Putin made a direct call to carve up Ukraine into a new country it would be a dramatic change of rhetoric. I don’t rule out that problems in translation could be involved but it’s also notable that a Kremlin spokesman said something totally different.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no new endorsement from Moscow for rebel independence. Asked if “New Russia“, a term pro-Moscow rebels use for their territory, should still be part of Ukraine, Peskov said: “Of course.”
What it looks like is a spectacular bit of double-speak from Putin. He can affirm that me means a partly-autonomous region in Ukraine but his words will continue to be interpreted differently by the different sides. They will inspire separatists and ramp up fears in Kiev.
The week ahead will focus on the counteroffensive in Ukraine as well as fresh sanctions.
