Comment by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the reaction of the Kiev authorities to the propositions to settle the Ukrainian crisis, which were announced in Moscow

After the visit of the President of Switzerland, Current OSCE President, Didier Burkhalter, to Moscow on the 7 May and his meeting with the President of Russia, we received generally positive assessments from our international partners. We think that it is a good sign and evidence of genuine interest in the search for ways out of the crisis in Ukraine.

However, we saw only awkward attempts from Arseniy Yatsenyuk to criticise loutishly from Kiev. From the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs we also heard some unintelligible comments that no–one can discuss the topic of the political deadlock in this country without Ukraine. It seems that Kiev has forgotten that the situation in Kiev is the focus of attention of all the responsible international partners now.

It is evident that Arseniy Yatsenyuk and his team should talk to the Ukrainian people as a priority and they should not have "top-down" discussions, but discuss it as equals, without ultimatums, of which everyone is becoming tired, and without the criminal use of force.

What is of special significance today is the organisation of a real constitutional reform, which is not based on some projects prepared in Kiev's rooms, which are not known to anybody, but within a wider discussion with the participation of all political forces and all regions of Ukraine. This is the only possible solution to the achievement of de-escalation.

If the West continues to recklessly support the Kiev authorities, we have the right to expect that our western colleagues will directly influence Kiev in favour of setting up a real nationwide dialogue, which is so necessary in Ukraine.

8 May 2014