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Yanukovych hopes to learn Putin’s attitude to situation in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Friday he hopes to learn the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the current situation around Ukraine in a personal conversation

ROSTOV-ON-DON, February 28. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Friday he hopes to learn the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the current situation around Ukraine in a personal conversation.

Yanukovych had to flee his official residence and leave Ukraine following riots in his country. The Verkhovna Rada, the country's unicameral parliament, then took over and appointed an interim head of state.

“I have had no meeting with Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. As soon as I hold this meeting, I will understand his attitude, and we will probably discuss the current situation,” the fugitive Ukrainian leader told journalists at a news conference in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don when asked if the Russian leadership considers him Ukraine’s president.

He emphasized once again that he remains the legitimately elected president of Ukraine.

Yanukovych also said he believes Russia to be a strategic partner, adding that he is surprised that Putin “keeps silent.