Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Kiev was cutting off the Donbass area of eastern Ukraine by excluding its citizens from the national financial system.
In answer to questions at a televised call-in, Putin also denied reports that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had asked Russia to take Donbass, a coal-mining region where pro-Russian separatists rose up last year.
"There are people who fight for their rights by force … but there are also people have nothing to do with it, who have worked for their pensions … So why are you not paying them?" he asked.
"Thus we can say that today's authorities in Ukraine are cutting off Donbass with their own hands."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
