Russia Yet To Decide Whether to Acknowledge Ukrainian Election Results

ST. PETERSBURG, May 23 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will announce its position on whether it acknowledges the results of presidential election in Ukraine or not after the voting that will be held on May 25, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov told journalists Friday at the SPIEF.

“Let’s wait for the election to be held first. Of course Russian side will consider this question [of election’s legitimacy], we will take all factors into account,’’ Meshkov said.

Ukrainian Parliament scheduled early presidential election for May 25 after the regime change led to ouster of country’s legitimate leader Victor Yanukovych late February.

Russian-speaking southeastern regions of Ukraine refused to recognize the legitimacy of Kiev’s new authorities. On May 11 referendums were held in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where 90 percent of citizens voted for creation of independent People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. The self-declared states have already announced they would not vote in presidential election.