(VOVWORLD) - Russia favors resolving the conflict with Ukraine through peaceful means, President Vladimir Putin said Friday in Murmansk, but he conditioned this on the elimination of the conflict's root causes and guarantees that Russia's interests would not be harmed.
 Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a press conference in Moscow. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
Putin emphasized the need for thorough discussions and proposed holding discussions under the auspices of the UN, the US, EU countries, and partner countries, focusing on the establishment of a transitional government in Ukraine. This would enable a democratic election in Ukraine, leading to the election of a new government competent of negotiating a peace agreement and signing the necessary legal documents, said President Putin.
However, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council dismissed Putin's proposal to establish a temporary government in Ukraine, stating that governance in Ukraine is determined by its constitution and people.
Kiev has not yet responded to Putin's proposal.