Putin: Kiev has turned to terrorism instead of peacefully solving Ukraine crisis

RT
Wed, 10 Aug 2016 00:09 UTC

© Aleksey Nikolskyi / Sputnik

Kiev has turned to the "practice of terrorism" instead of trying to peacefully resolve Ukraine's crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in commenting on an FSB report that it had foiled terrorist attacks in Crimea plotted by Ukrainian intelligence.

Ukraine is "playing a dangerous game," the Russian leader said when talking to reporters on Wednesday, while calling Kiev's actions "stupid and criminal."

Moscow cannot turn a blind eye to the deaths of its servicemen who were killed during special operations to prevent terrorist attacks in Crimea, Putin said.

Given that the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR MOU) was allegedly behind the thwarted terrorist attacks in Crimea, it is "pointless" to meet with Ukraine's current authorities to seek a solution to the country's crisis, Putin said.

The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany were to meet in the so-called "Normandy format" to discuss the peace process in Ukraine on the sidelines of the upcoming G20 in China.

However, Kiev has demonstrated that it's not interested in peaceful negotiations, the Russian president told reporters, adding that he would like to address the matter with Moscow's American and European partners as well.

"I think it's obvious that Kiev's current authorities are not seeking for ways to solve problems through negotiations, but have turned to terrorism," Putin said, adding that this new development is rather alarming.

Comment: Background: Shootout at Crimean checkpoint kills one Russian, wounds three

Russian site Politnavigator reports:

Sea Breeze exercises were used to transfer foreign mercenaries to the border of Crimea

Ukraine and NATO's Sea Breeze exercises in the Black Sea became a smokescreen to smuggle foreign mercenaries to Odessa and Kherson region, said former people's deputy Aleksey Zhuravko on air of program "Pravda."

According to him, such actions are directed against Russia and are a prepation for war. "Why do you think today, so many mercenaries came to the territory of Ukraine? It's no secret that in Nikolaev, Odessa region there are Poles, Hungarians are the Americans. This was all done for 'Sea Breeze', but, in fact, a springboard is prepared for war against Russia. When they realized that they lost Crimea, immediately understood what is behind it. Of course, while it's still hot, they want to spin the wheel of war. And this wheel will continue to spin," - said Zhuravko.