SMRs and AMRs

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Russia Praises Ukraine's Autonomy Law for Rebel Areas

Ukrainian Nationalist Party supporters burn torches Wednesday outside the presidential office in Kiev to protest autonomy for rebel-held areas. European Pressphoto Agency

President Poroshenko Defends Law, Critics in Kiev Call it Unpatriotic

By Paul Sonne
Updated Sept. 17, 2014 6:49 p.m. ET

KIEV, Ukraine—Russia praised a Ukrainian law granting self-governance powers to separatist-held areas of Ukraine, a measure that faces a challenge from some politicians in Kiev who call it a giveaway to Moscow.

The Foreign Ministry in Moscow on Wednesday described the new Ukrainian law—which Kiev agreed to pass during recent cease-fire negotiations—as a "step in the right direction."

The comments came as a signal to Ukraine—and the Russia-backed separatists—of Moscow's desire to keep the negotiations on track, despite continued, sporadic violence in eastern Ukraine. Formalizing control for the rebels over part of Ukraine would give Moscow a tool to rein in Kiev's European ambitions.

Moscow also warned that any Ukrainian attempts to backtrack on the legislation risked reviving the deadly conflict.

(More here.)

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