Stay out of Ukraine, Hague tells Putin

The Foreign Secretary said there was a “moment of opportunity” in Ukraine after MPs voted to oust president Viktor Yanukovych and hold fresh elections in May.

A senior Ukrainian opposition figure has assumed presidential powers, plunging the country into new uncertainty after a deadly political stand-off and boosting the chances of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko returning to power.

The whereabouts and legitimacy of Mr Yanukovych are unclear after he left the capital for his support base in eastern Ukraine. He maintains that parliament’s decisions in recent days are illegal, and a top presidential aide said he will continue to fulfil his presidential duties.

But the newly emboldened parliament has voted overwhelmingly to temporarily hand the president’s powers to speaker Oleksandr Turchinov, a top ally of Tymoshenko who has been released after serving more than two-and-a-half years in prison.

Mr Hague said talks were continuing with Moscow and stressed that it would not be in the interests of the Russian people to intervene, amid concerns that president Vladimir Putin could send in troops.

He said: “There is a moment of opportunity now for the Ukraine after those terrible scenes and the horrific bloodshed of a few days ago.

“The political situation, even among the opposition is very complex. It’s clearly been a very divided country. The position and whereabouts of Mr Yanukovych are not clear as we speak.

“There are many dangers, but it’s urgent that they get on to form that inclusive government, a government of national unity in effect.

“It’s urgent that they confirm their constitutional arrangements for elections coming up which they have declared for May.

Mr Hague said Prime Minister David Cameron held talks with Mr Putin last week and he would speak to his counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, tomorrow.

He said: “It’s very important for us to try to persuade Russia that this need not be a zero sum game.

“It’s in the interests of the people of the Ukraine to be able to trade more freely with the European Union, it’s in the interest of the people of Russia for that to happen as well.

“We are in constant discussion with Russia and it’s very important we keep that up, particularly if there’s an economic package it will be important that Russia doesn’t do anything to undermine that economic package and is working in co-operation and support of it.”