Russia accuses the West of trying to control Ukraine
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MOSCOW (AP) — Accusing the West of plotting to control Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared today that the pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine will only lay down their arms if the Ukrainian government clears out the Maidan protest camp in Kyiv.
“The West wants — and this is how it all began — to seize control of Ukraine because of their own political ambitions, not in the interests of the Ukrainian people,” Lavrov said.
He added the pro-Russia insurgents will disarm and vacate buildings “only if Kyiv authorities get down to implementing the Geneva accords, clear out that shameful Maidan and liberate the buildings that have been illegally seized.”
Ukraine’s reaction was swift.
“The world has not yet forgotten the Second World War, but Russia is already keen on starting a third world war,” acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk retorted.
President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters in Seoul, South Korea, said he planned to call key European leaders later today to discuss what has happened since a deal was reached last week in Geneva to try to de-escalate the crisis.
The West, meanwhile, has accused Russia of fueling the unrest in Ukraine’s east and failing to use its influence on the pro-Russia insurgents. “Not a single Russian official, not one, has publicly gone on television in Ukraine and called on the separatists to support the Geneva agreement, to support the stand-down, to give up their weapons and get out of the Ukrainian buildings,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday.
At issue is who is adhering to the Geneva deal and what is an illegal occupation. In Geneva, Russia and Ukraine agreed that all illegal groups in Ukraine should be disarmed and all illegally occupied public buildings and spaces should be vacated.
Pro-Russia militia have seized and been occupying government buildings in more than 10 cities in eastern Ukraine.
In the capital of Kyiv, pro-Ukrainian demonstrators continue to operate a tent camp on the city’s main square, known as the Maidan, and occupy several buildings nearby, including city hall.
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Friday, April 25, 2014 2:00 pm.
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