All news

Ukrainian crisis to continue until opposing parties start direct dialogue — official

"The fighting will continue until the Kiev authorities, the LPR and DPR start a direct dialogue," Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov said
Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov  ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Metzel
Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov
© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Metzel

ANOSINO (Moscow Region), January 29. /TASS/. The Ukrainian conflict is expected to continue until Kiev and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) launch a direct dialogue, Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov said on Thursday.

"The fighting will continue until the Kiev authorities, the LPR and DPR start a direct dialogue," Ivanov said.

Ivanov also stressed that Ukraine’s male population has massively started fleeing abroad to dodge the mobilization campaign. Many of them flee to the territory of Russia, he said.

The fourth round of mobilization in Ukraine kicked off on January 20. Another two are scheduled for April and June. Over 100,000 people may be mobilized in 2015.

More than 5,000 people have died since Kiev launched its military operation in eastern Ukraine, according to the United Nations figures, while fears grow that the real figure may be considerably higher.