Moscow - Moscow expects a majority of the new Verkhovna Rada's deputies will support the policy of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko towards unity in Ukraine, Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Andrei Kelin said.
“Hopefully, the policy of Ukrainian President Poroshenko towards peace, national accord and reconciliation in Ukraine will be backed by a majority [of deputies] of the new Ukrainian parliament,” he said at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council. The Russian Foreign Ministry’s website posted Kelin’s speech on Friday.
“We altogether hope that the new authorities formed in Ukraine will deal with the real problems faced by the country and provide the national unity in which all citizens will find their equal place within Ukraine and no one will be subjected to political persecution,” the envoy noted.
Russia respects the choice of Ukrainian citizens, Kelin said. “We respect the choice of Ukrainian citizens. Russia is ready to interact with constructive forces in the new Ukrainian parliament and the new Ukrainian government,” he added.
Yet it would be too much early to say that the outbreak of neo-Nazi sentiments in Ukraine is over, the envoy underlined. “It is premature to be complacent and say that neo-Nazism has been defeated in Ukraine. Right Sector combat units have not been disbanded. Their leader Yarosh won in a single-member constituency with 30% of the vote,” Kelin stated.
Lots of activists and participants in the hostilities in Donbas, many of whom may be involved in violations of humanitarian laws and crimes against the civilian population, have won the parliament elections, he said. “Time will show how much influence they may have on the real policy of the Ukrainian authorities,” Kelin stated.
