Speaking on Russian state tv this morning and reported by TASS
It must be borne in mind that Russia can not stand aside when people are being shot at almost point blank
- the West’s support for Ukrainian military operations contradicts European democratic values
- calls on Ukraine to immediately start talks on political solution and says the talks must have the goal of:
safeguarding the legitimate interests of those people who live there
Asked if it was possible to predict the end of the crisis in Ukraine RIA news agency quoted Putin as saying
No. It largely depends on the political will of current Ukrainian authorities
