- Sputnik International
Russia
The latest news and stories from Russia. Stay tuned for updates and breaking news on defense, politics, economy and more.

Russian MPs skeptical over "orange" coalition deal in Ukraine

Subscribe
Members of the Russian parliament's lower chamber said Wednesday they believed that an "orange" coalition in neighboring Ukraine would not improve relations with Russia, and would ultimately lead to Ukraine's demise.
MOSCOW, June 21 (RIA Novosti) - Members of the Russian parliament's lower chamber said Wednesday they believed that an "orange" coalition in neighboring Ukraine would not improve relations with Russia, and would ultimately lead to Ukraine's demise.

Three pro-Western parties Wednesday initialed a deal on forming a majority coalition in Ukraine's parliament. If a coalition agreement is signed, it will bring an end to months of political wrangling among Ukraine's political parties, after parliamentary elections March 26 failed to produce a clear winner.

Lyubov Sliska, the Russian State Duma's first deputy speaker, said the victory of the "orange" coalition would not bring about any improvement in relations between the two countries, and would only speed up Ukraine's integration into NATO.

She also said it would be necessary to form a special committee to ensure the continuation of the dialogue between Russia and Ukraine and to develop the major forms of bilateral cooperation.

The Ukrainian parliament will discuss the mooted coalition June 22, in time for the June 24 deadline after which President Viktor Yushchenko could disband the Supreme Rada and call new elections if parliament fails to forge a coalition.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, State Duma deputy speaker and the leader of ultra-national Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, said the Ukranian leadership was "following a path of mistakes."

"The more political, Communist mistakes they make, the faster the collapse of Ukraine will occur," he said. "Southwestern Ukraine will become part of Russia again, and western Ukraine will become a small [independent] state, like Poland."

Zhirinovsky said he backed the collapse scenario.

"I am for a split [of Ukraine]," he said. "So that the Russians live in Russia, and let the Ukrainians live in the Kiev-Lviv region."

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала