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Russia warns against exclusivist politics in Ukraine
February 25, 2014, 12:45 pm

An anti-Yanukovych protester protects the entrance of a shop occupied by demonstrators still camped out on Kiev's Independence Square, the epicenter of the country's current unrest, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 [AP]

An anti-Yanukovych protester protects the entrance of a shop occupied by demonstrators still camped out on Kiev’s Independence Square, the epicenter of the country’s current unrest, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 [AP]

A day after Ukraine’s interim Finance Minister said the country was seeking at least $35 billion in urgent aid from Western powers, including the EU and the United States, Russia has said Moscow would wait until a new government was formed before agreeing to render assistance.

“We want to understand who will be in Ukraine’s new government, which is literally being formed at this time, and what agenda this new government will have, including for stabilizing the economy,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Russia announced last year that it would grant Ukraine $15 billion in loans and slash gas prices to help tide over the cash-strapped country’s debts.

Moscow has now stated that it will stay away from the current upheaval in Kiev, echoing a position stated by China earlier on Monday.

“We have confirmed our principled position to not interfere in Ukraine’s internal affairs and expect all [foreign powers] to follow a similar logic,” said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russian ally China on Monday said it respects the wishes of the Ukrainian people.

‘It is known that China never interferes in other country’s internal affairs, so China will not interfere in Ukraine’s internal affairs. We respect the choices made by the people of Ukraine, according to their domestic situation,” said Hua Chunying spokeswoman of Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Viktor Yanukovych, the former president of the Ukraine was ousted on Friday and is being sought in connection with the killings of “innocent citizens,” said Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

Nearly 100 people were killed last week in clashes between protesters and the police.

Meanwhile, Russia also hit out at exclusivist politics being played out in the former Soviet nation.

Lavrov said it would be “dangerous and counterproductive” to give Ukraine an ultimatum of “either you’re with us or against us”.

 

 Source: Agencies