Putin talking about Ukraine now. Blaming it all on "imposition of an artificial choice"
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) June 27, 2014
Deplores humanitarian crisis, attacks on journalists, calls for cessation of hostilities, moves on to other stuff.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) June 27, 2014
But while he talks about a split, he still calls it one country. Still talking reconciliation rather than secession.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) June 27, 2014
Here are some more details on Putin's remarks concerning Ukraine's signing of an EU Association Agreement:
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Ukrainian society is "split" after being forced to choose between Europe and Russia.
His comments came shortly after Kyiv signed an agreement on closer ties with the European Union on June 27.
Putin said, "The anticonstitutional coup in Kyiv, the attempts to impose an artificial choice between Europe and Russia, have pushed [Ukrainian] society to a split, to a painful internal confrontation."
He called for a long-term cease-fire to allow for talks between Kyiv and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Putin said the ongoing violence has forced tens of thousands of Ukrainians to seek refuge, including in Russia.
Clashes have continued in the east despite a unilateral cease-fire declared by Kyiv a week ago.
Indirect talks on prolonging the cease-fire are set to take place on June 27 before the truce expires.
Today's Association Agreements are milestones in European history- people gave their lives for this closer link. pic.twitter.com/qO1N0vvQAY
— Herman Van Rompuy (@euHvR) June 27, 2014
Still more evidence that E Ukraine rebels are restoring only worst parts of the USSR: Lugansk creates its own KGB pic.twitter.com/i923R61ILK
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) June 27, 2014
My statement on signing of #EU’s Association Agreements with #Georgia, #Moldova #Ukraine #EUCO: http://t.co/OirgiPSQ7y
— AndersFogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) June 27, 2014
Rare photos of how #Donetsk glitzy new airport looks like now: http://t.co/wMQNhzatjN pic.twitter.com/dgRgjm1fWw v @novostidnua #Ukraine
— Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) June 27, 2014
Ukraine extends ceasefire by 12 hours in hope of negotiations with rebels http://t.co/TEpSwSqwaa via @guardian #fb
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) June 27, 2014
Seems like a poignant image. Donetsk airport -- before and after:
Донецкий аэропорт имени Сергея Прокофьева. До и после pic.twitter.com/b1Ml0GnvfT
— Українська правда (@ukrpravda_news) June 27, 2014
there will be no decision on new sanctions against #Russia at this #EUCO but an outline of concrete steps Rus have to take in the next 72h
— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) June 27, 2014
Yep. Rosneft's new oil platform is called "Berkut" http://t.co/pqZ2WNK3BZ via @niktwick
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) June 27, 2014