MOSCOW. Jan 18 (Interfax) - The Donbas law passed by Ukrainian parliament could have extremely negative consequences for future developments in the region, Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko said.
"There were hopes that the Ukrainian authorities would think again and pass a law giving greater autonomy and spelling out the norms stipulated in the Minsk Agreements, in the roadmap. But this law has put the Minsk Agreements to rest. It has created the conditions for an irresponsible, uncontrolled use of armed forces, use of weapons. It has not made a single step towards the peace process. This is very alarming, very alarming," Matviyenko was quoted by the upper house's press office as saying.
The law was passed because the guarantor countries - Russia, Germany and France - had been increasing pressure on the government in Kyiv to implement the Minsk Agreements step by step, she said.
"But in essence the Ukrainian government did the exact opposite to what was spelt out in them," the speaker said.
"One more thing: the rude attitude towards the fraternal nation, towards our country. They are accusing [Russia] of nonexistent sins. They are calling us aggressors, occupiers. They claim the presence of some virtual Russian armed forces in Donetsk and Luhansk. This is an attempt to find the responsible for the disaster that struck Ukraine after the coup. An attempt to shift the blame for the dire economic and social situation in the country, for the industrial and economic collapse. For the horrible living conditions, for the sharp fall in population's incomes. This is an attempt to find the culprit in the person of Russia," Matviyenko said.