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Putin: Russia not to interfere in situation in Ukraine

BRUSSELS, January 28, 21:03 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia will not interfere in the situation in Ukraine, which has been hit by anti-government protests, President Vladimir Putin said after a Russia-EU summit on Tuesday.

“How would our European partners react if at the height of the crisis, for example, in Greece or in Cyprus, our foreign minister showed up at an anti-European rally and started addressing [people] with some calls?” he asked rhetorically. “We believe this is not very good.”

The Russian president said he doubted that mediation by Russia or any other countries was required in the settlement of Ukraine’s political crisis.

“It seems to me that the more mediators, the more problems,” Putin said, recalling a Russian proverb that translates as “seven baby-sitters can't say why their only baby lost her eye.”

Putin said that the Ukrainian authorities should be cautious about using force against protesters, adding that this would be a last resort measure.

A wave of anti-government protests erupted more than a week ago in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to spread across Ukraine after parliament passed a set of laws on violations of public order. Protesters across the country stormed and seized a number of government buildings demanding the resignation of the ruling authorities.