Russian president’s spokesman plays down interview remarks as key port city of Mariupol prepares for possible rebel assaultVladimir Putin has called on Kiev to enter discussions on “statehood” for the south-east regions of Ukraine a day after the EU gave Russia a week to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine or face further sanctions.In excerpts of an interview with state television broadcast on Sunday evening, the Russian president said talks between Ukrainian authorities and separatist leaders in the east should begin immediately and be about “not just technical issues but on the political organisation of society and statehood in south-eastern Ukraine”. …read more
Source: The Guardian
