Putin Warns of Civil War Risk in Ukraine as Election Looms
AP, May 23, 2014
Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing business leaders, warned of the risk of civil war over Ukraine crisis.
Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) --
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Friday of a "dangerous civil war" in Ukraine as fresh violence erupted ahead of this weekend's presidential election.
Putin, addressing an international economic forum in St. Petersburg, said the chaos was the result of a "state coup" in Ukraine "with support of the West, the United States."
Former Soviet states must guard against wider destabilization, he said.
He also defended Russia's recent annexation of Crimea, which was condemned as illegitimate by Kiev and the West.
Putin said Russia was ensuring the "possibility of free will for the people" who chose to join Russia in a democratic referendum in March.
His remarks come as the interim government in Kiev prepares to hold presidential elections Sunday to choose a successor for ousted pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych.
Russian state media cited Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov as saying Friday that Russia would decide whether or not to recognize the polls only after the vote takes place.
"Let's wait for the elections first. Naturally, when Russia considers this issue (on legitimacy) we will take into account all factors," official news agency ITAR-Tass quotes Meshkov as saying.
Unpaid gas bills
Addressing business leaders, Putin said Russia had tried to help Ukraine in its difficult economic situation.
But he said Ukraine must pay off the hefty arrears owed to Russian energy giant Gazprom for natural gas.
"The risks today of delivery of the gas supply are not our fault but quite honestly, everyone understands that this is because of the transit country Ukraine, which has abused its situation," he said.
"We provided Ukraine with 10 billion cubic meters of gas for free," he added. "This is not sensible; this is really stupid, and we must have limits."
Kiev and European Union leaders have urged Russia not to use the energy supply as a weapon.
Putin also said it was important for Russia to maintain good relations with the EU for cooperation in nuclear security, the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, and to make the world more stable and predictable.
Separatists, right-wing militants clash
Clashes between separatists and pro-Ukrainian militants, the latter from the so-called "Donbass battalion" and far-right group Right Sector, were reported Friday morning near Karlivka in central Ukraine.
The chief of staff for Right Sector, Andriy Denysenko, told CNN that the pro-Ukrainian forces wanted to take down a separatist checkpoint in the area but were "attacked" by about 100 separatists.
After a battle lasting about two hours, he said, most of the pro-Ukrainian forces were able to pull back to a Ukrainian military checkpoint near Krasnoarmiysk, but four remained trapped in a cafe.
They cannot be contacted and pro-Ukrainian forces say they were either killed or taken hostage, he said.
Denysenko said there was no confirmed information yet on casualties but denied reports that 10 Right Sector members had been killed.
Disturbances were also reported Friday in Slovyansk, a stronghold for the separatists in the eastern Donetsk region.
A CNN team in Slovyansk heard about 10 explosions in what sounded like the outskirts of the town, following shelling overnight around a militant barricade.
Ukraine's Border Service said Friday that its guards had thwarted another attempt by armed men illegally to bring weapons and ammunition over the border from Russia.
RELATED:
Putin: Russia Will Respect Result of Ukraine Vote
By AP, 23 May 2014
MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin announced Friday that Russia will recognize the outcome of Ukraine's presidential vote this weekend but voiced hope that Ukraine would halt its military operation against separatists in the east.
In Kiev, Ukraine's leader urged all voters to take part in the crucial ballot to "cement the foundation of our nation" but pro-Russia insurgents still battled government forces in eastern Ukraine.
Speaking at an investment forum in St. Petersburg, Putin said Russia will "respect the choice of the Ukrainian people" and will work with the new leadership. He said Russia wants peace and order to be restored in Russia's neighbor.
An elderly local woman passes a house destroyed by shellings in Semyonovka village, outside Slovyansk, Ukraine, Friday, May 23, 2014.
The village on the outskirts of Slovyansk, a city which has been the epicenter of clashes for weeks, has seen continuous shelling by the Ukrainian government forces, who have retaliated to the rebel fire. On Friday, a private house was destroyed by mortar fire that came from the Ukrainian side. There were no casualties, as the family living there had left the previous day, according to local residents. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Earlier, Putin had blamed the West for encouraging a "coup" in Ukraine when the nation's pro-Russian president was chased from power and for plunging the country into what he described as "chaos and a full-scale civil war."
In a live televised address from Kiev, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov, who is not running, emphasized the importance of Sunday's vote to choose a new leader.
"Today, we are building a new European country the foundation of which was laid by millions of Ukrainians who proved that they are capable of defending their own choice and their country," Turchynov said. "We will never allow anyone to rob us of our freedom and independence, turn our Ukraine into a part of the post-Soviet empire."
Authorities in Kiev had hoped that a new president would unify the divided nation, where the west looks toward Europe and the east has strong traditional ties to Russia. But they have now acknowledged it will be impossible to hold the vote in some areas in the east — especially in Donetsk and Luhansk, where insurgents have declared independence and pledged to derail the vote. Election workers and activists say gunmen there have threatened them and seized their voting materials.
Joao Soares, coordinator for an observation mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said Friday he expects problems with voting in "less than 20 percent of the polling stations."
Twenty-one candidates are competing Sunday to become Ukraine's next leader. Polls show billionaire candy-maker Petro Poroshenko with a commanding lead but falling short of the absolute majority needed to win in the first round; his nearest challenger is Yulia Tymoshenko, the divisive former prime minister, who is trailing by a significant margin.
If no one wins in the first round, a runoff will be held on June 15. Most polls predict Poroshenko's victory in that contest.
At a security conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged the West to reach a settlement based on mutual interests.
"If we sincerely want to help the Ukrainian people overcome this crisis, it's necessary to abandon the notorious zero-sum games, stop encouraging xenophobic and neo-Nazi sentiments and get rid of dangerous megalomania," Lavrov said.
Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea Peninsula in March, triggering the worst crisis in relations with the West since the Cold War. Pro-Russian insurgents also have seized government buildings in eastern Ukraine and fought government troops for more than a month.
In the deadliest attack yet, pro-Russia insurgents attacked a military checkpoint and killed 16 soldiers Thursday, casting a shadow over the presidential vote.
The head of the General Staff of the Russian military, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, on Friday criticized Ukrainian authorities for what he said was using artillery and other heavy weapons against civilians. He also charged that radical paramilitary forces and private security companies were spearheading the Ukrainian offensive.
While many in eastern Ukraine resent the government in Kiev, they are also growing increasingly exasperated with the insurgents, whom they blame for putting civilians in the crossfire.
The village of Semenovka on the outskirts of Slovyansk, a city that has been the epicenter of clashes for weeks, has seen continuous shelling by the Ukrainian government forces retaliating to rebel fire.
Early Friday, a house was destroyed by mortar fire that came from Ukrainian government side, but locals reported no casualties.
Shelling continued later in the day, targeting Slovyansk, where several other buildings were also damaged. There was no word of casualties.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addresses a security conference in Moscow, Russia on Friday, May 23, 2014. Lavrov on Friday urged the West
to stop playing what he described as a zero-sum game against Russia and reach a settlement based on mutual interests. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
A pro-Russian armed man runs past a burning house after it was set on fire by a mortar
shell, on the outskirts of the town of Lysychansk, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 22, 2014.
In the eastern Luhansk region, sustained gunfire and shelling rocked the town of Lysychansk. One mortar bomb hit a house, which burst into flames.
Earlier today at least 11 Ukrainian troops were killed and about 30 others were wounded during an attack at a military checkpoint, the deadliest raid in the weeks of fighting in eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A private house burns after it was set on fire by a mortar shell, on the outskirts of the town of Lysychansk, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 22, 2014.
A journalist films a destroyed house following a mortar attack in Semyonovka village, outside Slovyansk, Ukraine, Friday, May 23, 2014.
Local citizens talk to each other in front of a house destroyed by shellings in Semyonovka village, outside Slovyansk, Ukraine, Friday, May 23, 2014.
The village on the outskirts of Slovyansk, a city which has been the epicenter of clashes for weeks, has seen continuous shelling by the Ukrainian government forces, who have retaliated to the rebel fire. On Friday, a private house was destroyed by mortar fire that came from the Ukrainian side. There were no casualties, as the family living there had left the previous day, according to local residents. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
A destroyed house, following a motor attack, is seen in Semyonovka village, outside Slovyansk, Ukraine, Friday, May 23, 2014.
A worker of Illich Iron & Steel Works steel plant attends an anti-war protest in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, May 22, 2014.
Ukrainian metals tycoon Rinat Akhmetov, riding a wave of public dismay with the fighting, issued a strong call against the mutiny in the east, which he described as a fight against the citizens of the region that has devastated Ukraine's industrial heartland.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Workers of Illich Iron & Steel Works steel plant stand during an anti-war protest,
supported by the management, in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, May 22, 2014.
Workers of Illich Iron & Steel Works steel plant gather for an anti-war protest,
supported by the management, in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, May 22, 2014.
A journalist films a destroyed house following a mortar attack in Semyonovka village, outside Slovyansk, Ukraine, Friday, May 23, 2014.
The village on the outskirts of Slovyansk, a city which has been the epicenter of clashes for weeks, has seen continuous shelling by the Ukrainian government forces, who have retaliated to the rebel fire. On Friday, the private house was destroyed by mortar fire that came from the Ukrainian side. There were no casualties, as the family living there had left the previous day, according to local residents. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)