Ukraine on verge of civil war, Putin warns

Ukraine on verge of civil war, Putin warns

... Excerpt

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukraine’s military operation against pro-Moscow protesters puts the country on the verge of civil war.

Putin made the remark in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday.

 

"The Russian president remarked that the sharp escalation of the conflict [in Ukraine] has placed the country, in effect, on the verge of civil war," the Kremlin said in a statement issued after the phone conversation.

 

According to the statement, the two leaders underscored the significance of scheduled four-party talks on Thursday, when Russia, the European Union, the United States and Ukraine will meet on the Ukraine crisis.

 

"The hope was expressed that the meeting in Geneva can give a clear signal to return the situation to a peaceful framework," the statement said.

 

Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s acting president announced “an anti-terror operation” in the east of the country amid escalating pro-Russian protests in the region.

 

Oleksandr Turchynov said the operation was being conducted in the “north of Donetsk region” to root out protests in eastern Ukraine.

 

Meanwhile, in a separate telephone conversation with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Putin said he expects the UN to condemn Ukraine's approach in dealing with the unrest in the country’s east.

 

Putin "underscored that the Russian side expects a clear condemnation from the United Nations and the international community of these anti-constitutional actions", the Kremlin said in another statement.

 

Washington, however, praised the operation as “measured”.

 

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Ukraine is facing “an untenable situation”, adding that Washington is coordinating further steps with its allies.

 

Pro-Russian rallies gained momentum in Ukraine after Crimea declared independence from the former Soviet state and formally applied to become part of the Russian Federation following a referendum on March 16, in which nearly 97 percent of the participants voted for reunion with Russia.