Yanukovych calls on Zelensky to reach peace agreement

MOSCOW. March 8 (Interfax) - Viktor Yanukovych, who was president of Ukraine in 2010-2014, has called on incumbent Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop the war at any cost.

"I understand very well that you have many 'advisers.' But you are personally obligated to stop the bloodshed and reach a peace agreement at any cost," Yanukovych said in his address, seen by an Interfax correspondent.

Zelensky has promised "to stop the war in Ukraine' since the first day of his presidency, "and that was the only reason why the entire Ukraine supported him," Yanukovych said. "You could have become a president of peace, but, unfortunately, it did not happen," the address said.

Yanukovych blamed the conflict in Donbas on the "Maidan administration." "It's perfectly obvious that those who started the anti-terrorist operation in 2014 and who nourished the anti-terrorist operation for all these years must bear the toughest punishment," the address said.