MOSCOW, April 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia does not acknowledge the legitimacy of the new Ukrainian authorities, but continues to keep contacts, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a live Q&A session with the public on Thursday.
“We actually consider today’s authorities [in Ukraine] as being illegitimate and it can’t be otherwise, they have no all-national mandate on managing the country. But we aren’t refusing contacts with anyone, on the ministerial levels the contacts are open,” Putin said.
Moscow haven't recognized Kiev’s interim government as legitimate since February 21, when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted during a military seizure of power by the nationalists.
Ukraine is slated to vote for the country’s new president on May 25.
On Thursday, both Russia and Ukraine will participate in four-party talks in Geneva which will focus on the de-escalation of tensions, disarmament of illegal armed groups and constitutional reforms in the crisis-torn country.
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