PUTIN TALKS ABOUT STATEHOOD FOR UKRAINE. WASHINGTON NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT STATEHOOD FOR PUERTO RICO

Putin talks about ‘statehood’ for Eastern Ukraine



WASHINGTON POST
By Karoun Demirjian and Annie Gowen 
September 1

In an interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin calls for immediate talks between pro-Russian rebels and Kiev, on issues including “statehood” for eastern Ukraine. (Reuters)

SEE VIDEO: http://wapo.st/1qsWAmd

MOSCOW — Seeming to be searching for the right word during a prerecorded television interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Sunday that one of the issues to be resolved in the Ukrainian conflict is “statehood” for the eastern regions now controlled by separatists.

That’s a new idea, and if he meant it, it would raise the stakes considerably in the nearly 10-month-old Ukrainian crisis.

Earlier in the day, the European Union delayed imposing new economic sanctions on Russia but promised that if there is no policy change from Moscow within a week, more sanctions will be put in place.
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