17 Apr 2014 13:58

Putin: Presidential elections in Ukraine impossible without constitution's amendment

MOSCOW. April 17 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that presidential elections in Ukraine are impossible without a constitutional reform.

"Strictly speaking, in line with the Ukrainian constitution, if it is not amended, it is impossible to hold new presidential elections in the presence of legitimate President Viktor Yanukovych," Putin said during a Q&A session on Thursday.

"In line with the existing [Ukrainian] constitution, no new president can be elected if there is a live, incumbent, and legitimate president," Putin said.