The Russian Foreign Ministry took note, but did not recognize the results of the Ukrainian elections
The presidential campaign that ended in Ukraine can hardly be perceived as an example of democratic, free and independent expression of will.
Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Grigory Karasin spoke about this in an interview with Izvestia.
“Numerous violations and falsifications were mentioned in the reports of international monitoring missions, in the comments of the election race participants themselves and local observers. The Kyiv authorities used this campaign as another reason to whip up anti-Russian hysteria. Most of the candidates, including the current head of state Petro Poroshenko, have adopted rabid Russophobic rhetoric, thereby trying to divert the population’s attention from serious problems within the country,” Karasin noted.
He was also asked to answer the question whether Russia will eventually recognize the results of the Ukrainian presidential elections.
“Moscow is taking note of the election results. The viability and effectiveness of the new Ukrainian leadership will be largely determined by its willingness to adequately assess current realities and the challenges facing the country, and bear responsibility for decisions made, including resolving the crisis in Donbass on the basis of the Minsk agreements,” the diplomat said.
At the same time, he admitted that today it is difficult to talk about the prospects for an internal Ukrainian settlement, since too little time has passed since the change of power in Kyiv. The publication’s interlocutor also noted that statements made by the new President Vladimir Zelensky, who won the elections but has not yet taken office, or members of his team, are sometimes contradictory and do not give a real idea of the political program.
In addition, the Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry added that the main guarantee of progress towards establishing peace in Ukraine is a direct dialogue between Kyiv and Donbass.
The Russian Foreign Ministry took note of, but did not recognize, the results of the Ukrainian elections.