SOCHI, February 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Legitimacy of several bodies of power in Ukraine causes doubts, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told journalists on Monday.

“The legitimacy of several bodies of power functioning there (in Ukraine) causes great doubts,” Russia’s prime minister stressed.

He also noted that the recall of Russian ambassador from Kiev means that it is unclear for Russian authorities, what is happening in Ukraine. “This (the recall of the ambassador) means, that we don’t understand what is happening in the country, and there is a threat to our interests, lives and wellbeing of our citizens,” Medvedev stated.

The prime minister added that Russia would be ready to resume cooperation with Ukraine as soon as new authorities based on Constitution would be formed.

Nevertheless, according to Dmitry Medvedev, Ukraine will remain an important partner to Russia. “We are ready to discuss any topic, but the main issue is to understand, with whom to discuss them,” Medvedev said. “If you consider masked people a government, then we will apparently find it hard to work with them.”

 

“Extremists take control over Kiev amid connivance of opposition leaders”

Earlier, Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov in a conversation with US State Secretary John Kerry stated that after the Ukrainian government and the opposition signed an agreement on February 21, the situation in the country deteriorated sharply “due to the opposition’s inability or unwillingness to respect the agreements, which had been concluded with the active participation of Germany, Poland and France”.

“Illegal extremist groups refuse to surrender arms and take Kiev under their control with the connivance of the opposition leaders in the Verkhovna Rada,” Lavrov stressed.

Both sides noted that the departure of Yanukovych, who was put on the wanted list on Monday, was unexpected.

 

European Union accepts parliament’s resolution on Yanukovych’s dismissal

The EU respects the resolution on the ouster of Viktor Yanukovych adopted by the country’s parliament, spokesperson for the European Commission Olivier Bailly said.

“Regarding Yanukovych’s status, an institution that guarantees the democratic legitimacy (Verkhovna Rada) made a decision on the recent weekend. We respect the decisions made by Ukraine’s parliament,” Bailly said.

Meanwhile, the EU said it was ready to resume talks on association agreement with Ukraine only after presidential elections, but “this does not mean that Ukraine’s interim government would not be considered as legitimate by the EU”.

According to acting president of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov, the new authorities of Ukraine are recognized not only by the EU, but also by the US and UN. “I’ve held meetings with representatives of the EU, US and UN. All of them recognize the Ukrainian authorities and consider it as the only legitimate,” he stated.

Turchynov said the main task was to create a coalition government. “The most important task is to create a coalition government. I believe that tomorrow, February 25, we will be able to make a statement on the creation of such a government. We have a lot of laws and resolutions, but there is nobody to fulfill them. That is why we cannot secure their enforcement,” Turchynov noted.