Kurt Volker does not believe in possibility of Ukrainian provocations
BRUSSELS. Dec 17 (Interfax) - The United States' Special Representative for Ukraine, Kurt Volker, said Washington is not expecting the Ukrainian authorities to stage provocations against the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics for the purpose of extending martial law imposed in parts of the country.
"I think these assertions are made by pro-Russian entities in order to deflect attention away from what Russia is doing," Volker said, responding to a question posed by Interfax.
He added that such rumors may be an attempt to disguise planned Russian provocations "which I hope don't occur."
Ukraine has acted with restraint in this confrontation with Russia, Volker said. "You look at the Ukrainian Navy, for instance - even being fired upon in the Black Sea it didn't fire back and create a firefight with Russia. And I think that showed tremendous restraint under the circumstances," Volker said.