December 3, 2004
By Anna Melnichuk
The Associated Press
KIEV, Ukraine - Russian President Vladimir Putin injected himself directly into the election crisis in this former Soviet republic on Thursday, strongly attacking the opposition's central demand for a new presidential runoff and cautioning the West against getting too involved.
Putin made his comments while meeting with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma at an airport outside Moscow, as tens of thousands of opposition supporters waving Ukrainian flags and wearing orange armbands, sweaters and scarves rallied for the 11th straight day in Kiev's Independence Square.
The protesters, awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on whether to throw out the results of the disputed election, listened to rock bands and watched large-screen television sets broadcasting the court sessions.
They erected a Christmas tree - also bright orange, which is the emblematic color of their movement - in the tent camp they have maintained since shortly after the Nov. 21 runoff vote. Protesters kept up their blockade of the Cabinet building, banging on drums improvised from metal canisters, the sound echoing off the walls of the imposing Stalin era building.
Putin issued a warning to the West
``Neither Russia, nor the European Union, nor international organizations will solve the problems,'' he said. ``They all can play the role of mediators, but the Ukrainian people have the last word.''
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski mediated talks Wednesday between the two candidates in the bitter runoff.
After Putin's remarks, President Bush issued a warning that appeared to be directed at Russia. If there is to be a new election, it ``ought to be free from any foreign influence,'' Bush said in comments considered more forceful than those he has made in the past.
Putin had openly supported Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in the election. The Kremlin fears that a victory by opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who favors closer ties with the West, could drag this country of 48 million out of Moscow's orbit and generate pressure for greater democracy in Russia.
