Eurasia Press & News
Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending an envoy to Ukraine at the request of President Viktor Yanukovich, to try to mediate talks between the government and opposition, Russian news agencies said on Thursday.
Russia had until now steered clear of open involvement in any efforts to mediate between Yanukovich and his foes in an escalating dispute that began when the Ukrainian leader scrapped plans for deals with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Moscow.
“Putin decided to send (Russian) human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin on this mission,” state-run RIA quoted Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as saying after a telephone conversation between Putin and Yanukovich.
