Medvedev
© RIA Novosti/Ekaterina ShtukinaAre we living in an alternate universe, where politicians tell the truth? Russian leaders, at least, like Medvedev (above), Lavrov, and Putin seem to support such a hypothesis!
All Ukrainian leaders, former and current, are responsible for the current events taking place in the country, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. "We cannot but be alarmed by the events happening there. And what is happening there? Unfortunately, it is virtually a civil war," Medvedev said at a meeting with regional assets of the United Russia party.

"In my point of view, unfortunately, the main blame for what is happening in Ukraine today, is on those, who made decisions, how Ukraine itself should develop and how to create the state," the prime minister said, Interfax reports.

Medvedev said he did not refer to certain individuals in this case.

"So all Ukrainian leaders are responsible for what is happening in Ukraine today. Former and current ones. And those, who instigated the events in Kiev and assisted revolts which took place in early 2014, have a considerable share of responsibility as well," he said.


Comment: Diplomacy-speak translation: The Americans.


"Unfortunately, in the past year Ukrainian society did not become stronger and essentially decisions, which split it, were made. What else is the decision of the parliament - Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada - seeking to ban the Russian language. This is a very dangerous and short-sighted decision," Medvedev said.

As to Viktor Yanukovych, he can be treated differently but "in any case, these were legitimate authorities with the necessary legitimacy level," the Russian prime minister said.

"They were overthrown illegitimately. After this dramatic situation development started," he said.

Ukraine could have had calm elections if it was not for the stance of some states, which instigated the revolt, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

"If it was not for the stance of certain countries, which essentially instigated these processes and, let's say openly, assisted the revolt, everything could have been settled. The elections - presidential elections and parliamentary elections - could have been conducted calmly," Medvedev said at a meeting with regional assets of the United Russia party.

"Everything was imposed, effectively imposed with use of very specific technologies," said the Russian head of government.

This is what the Ukrainian people are now paying for, he said. "Everyone is paying: both those who live in east Ukraine, where, unfortunately, heavy vehicles have been used until recently and where artillery and aircraft were used against ordinary people; and other Ukrainians, even those who religiously believe in the triumph of Western democracy and the European path of development," Medvedev said.

Everyone hopes for the situation in Ukraine will settle and return into the constitutional framework "and for the people who make decisions in Ukraine - and they are, naturally, the President, Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian government, - no matter how they came to be, heed the people who have somewhat different ideas about life," Medvedev said.

Only in this case will it be possible to smooth the situation and ensure civilian peace, "save lives of old people and children and start living for the future," the Russian prime minister said.

"At any rate, this is what we would very much like, though it is clear that we cannot stay indifferent to what is happening there. Today this is a pain for huge numbers of our citizens, our people," Medvedev said.