MOSCOW. April 16 (Interfax) - Russia expects Ukraine to protect the statutory rights and interests of the ethnic Russians living in that country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"Today Russia is not expecting anything from the Kyiv government except for one thing: treating us as equal partners in all areas of cooperation. An important part for us is, of course, the protection of the statutory rights and interests of the (ethnic) Russians living in Ukraine and the people who consider themselves Russian," Putin said during a questions and answers session on Thursday.
"There is nothing extraordinary about it. But we are interested in full normalization with Ukraine. And we will do everything on our part to achieve this," Putin said.
The issue over the situation in Donbas is critical, he said.
"We are expecting the Ukrainian authorities to implement all Minsk agreements. Already there is talk about it: working groups need to be formed as part of the Minsk process and work should begin in several areas. It is a political, constitutional reform, it is the economy, the border," Putin said
"They need to start doing all this now. Not talk about it but start doing it. Regrettably, so far we have only seen continued attempts, elements of pressure and no real desire to resolve (the issue) politically. But my understanding is that there is no other way to solve the problem except politically. This understanding should come to everyone," the president said.