MOSCOW. June 25 (Interfax) - If rights of ethnic Russians and Ukrainians considering themselves Russian-speaking citizens are infringed in Ukraine, Russia has enough methods and instruments to protect Russian citizens and Russian-speaking people, Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said.
"The cancellation of the resolution [permitting use of Russian troops in Ukraine] does not mean at all that now we will close our eyes on the threat to people's safety if their rights are violated. We will tirelessly seek resolutions to these issues on our part and in dialogue with the Western authorities," Matviyenko said.
Russia and Ukraine have a vast agenda of cooperation, mutually beneficial for the two parties, she said.
"It is absolutely evident that the settlement in Ukraine is impossible without Russia's involvement. And I hope that pragmatic approach and common sense will prevail in Kyiv in regard to establishing and building cooperation between the two neighboring states and between two nations," Matviyenko said.