Putin was not forced to admit Poroshenko’s legitimacy
Moscow - Kyiv, June 05 (Navigator, Mikhail Ryabov) - Russian leader Vladimir Putin avoided answering the question whether, from his point of view, Petro Poroshenko is the legitimate president of Ukraine.
Subscribe to Navigator Kyiv news on Facebook , Odnoklassniki , or VKontakte
“I have already spoken about this, I want to repeat: we will respect and treat the choice of the Ukrainian people and will work with the Ukrainian authorities,” Putin said in an interview with Radio Europe-1.
At the same time, the Russian President allowed the possibility of meeting with Poroshenko at celebrations in Normandy, where they were both invited.
“You know, I’m not going to run from anyone. President Hollande was kind enough to invite me as a representative of Russia to these solemn events - tragic, sad and at the same time solemn. I accept this invitation with pleasure and am grateful to the President for his gesture. But there are other guests there, I’m not going to run from anyone and, of course, I will communicate with everyone,” Putin said.
When asked by a Western journalist whether Putin’s opinion about the excessive influence of the United States on the new Ukrainian president would become an obstacle to the meeting with Poroshenko, the Russian leader replied:
“I didn’t say that he shouldn’t be under strong influence from the United States. He can be influenced by anyone. People voted for him, and it is his choice how to build his policy. If he wants to be strongly influenced by anyone, let him be,” Putin said.
Putin was not forced to acknowledge Poroshenko's legitimacy.