Processes aimed at legitimizing Ukraine's administration are a positive step - Putin
SHANGHAI. May 21 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the processes aimed at legitimizing the current Kyiv administration are a positive step, but it is difficult to build relations with those who continue punitive operations and impede the work of journalists.
"In any case, the political processes, including the processes aimed at legitimizing the current [Kyiv] administration are now, of course, positive steps. At the same time, it will be very difficult for us to build relations with people who come to power on the background of the punitive operation that continues in the southeastern regions of Ukraine and impede the work of the press," Putin told reporters in Shanghai.
At the same time, Putin believes that it would be more logical to hold a referendum on the Constitution before holding elections in Ukraine.
"I believe it would be much cleaner and easier, from a legal viewpoint, to hold a referendum on all main issues, on the Constitution, bearing in mind that the current Ukrainian Constitution does not allow elections because there is a lawful president, I would like to reiterate that, incumbent President Yanukovych," Putin said.
Putin said that the new Constitution could be used for electing the president and the parliament and forming the government. "In my view, it would be much more logical to do it that way, and it would lead to greater stability," he said.
Putin reiterated that the current Ukrainian authorities have made a different decision with support from European countries and the U.S.
