Parliamentary elections hamper peaceful settlement in eastern Ukraine - Putin
VLADIVOSTOK. Aug 31 (Interfax) - It is impossible to predict how long the military conflict will last in Ukraine, said President Vladimir Putin.
"This largely depends on the political will of the current political leadership," Putin said in an interview with the Voskresnoye Vremya weekly summary television program.
Another problem is that Ukraine is a step away from parliamentary elections, with all participants in the election race willing "to demonstrate how tough they are."
"All want to demonstrate that they are tough girls and boys. Amid this flurry of political rivalry, it's hard to hope that people will arrive who will clearly define their determination to seek peaceful, not military solutions to the problem. We are hoping for the better, nevertheless," Putin said.
Ukraine's early parliamentary elections are slated for October 26.
