MOSCOW / BERLIN
Russia's Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev pledged the country's support to Ukraine, but warns Ukrainian officials to stay legitimate.
Speaking in the government's meeting on Thursday, Medvedev said: "It is necessary for the partners themselves to maintain their tone and for the active authorities in Ukraine to be legitimate and effective, not a doormat for everyone to clean their feet on," Medvedev added.
"The authorities must concentrate on the objective of protecting the people, protecting the law enforcers who protect the state interests and the people themselves. Only in this case we could further develop the full-fledged economic cooperation,” the prime minister noted.
Russia announced on Monday it would buy US$2 billion worth of Ukraine debt in bonds, as part of its US$15 billion financial aid, plus trade incentives which helped sway Yanukovych in November.
German MPs urge political transition in Ukraine
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling conservative party alliance CDU/CSU expressed growing concern over the ongoing violence in Ukraine, and called for the launch of a rapid political transition process.
During Thursday’s parliamentary debate on Ukraine, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's deputy chairman said the formation of a national transition government is key to reaching a solution to the current crisis.
“In order to reach a solution in the short term, there is need to first maintain the truce,” Dr. Andreas Schockenhoff said. “Secondly, the announced amnesty should be implemented as soon as possible. Thirdly, a national transition government should be formed. And fourthly, there is need to return to the 2004 constitution for a parliament with real powers.”
Despite Yanukovych announcing a truce and talks with opposition leaders on Wednesday, after at least 28 people were killed in violent clashes between protesters and security forces, 22 more people were declared dead on Thursday, according to AA reports.
Schockenhoff blamed Russia for escalating the crisis by using its political and economic influence late last year to force the Ukrainian government to not sign a key cooperation agreement with the European Union.
He also urged both Europe and Russia to refrain from falling into the trap of “zero sum game logic.”
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