16 Apr 2015 13:48

Ukraine cuts itself from Donbas with its own hands - Putin

MOSCOW. April 16 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin thinks that by blockading Donbas the Kyiv government is rejecting the region with its own hands.

"There are people in Donbas who have nothing to do with this, they earned their pension, including by working for 20 years in an independent Ukraine. They have nothing to do with the hostilities. Why are you not paying to them? You are obliged to do so by the law," Putin said.

"Therefore, one can say that today's Ukrainian government is cutting itself from Donbas with its own hand. That is where the tragedy is," Putin said during a questions and answers session with Russians on Thursday.