KIEV (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin should not expect many Ukrainians to take up his offer of a Russian passport, Ukraine's President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, while offering Ukrainian citizenship to Russians. Putin made his statement days after signing an order to simplify the procedure for obtaining a Russian passport for residents of separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine, prompting calls from Kiev for more international sanctions. Five years of war between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed forces have killed 13,000 people despite a notional ceasefire signed in 2015. Zelenskiy said he was ready for talks but he warned Russia against trying to speak with Ukraine and Ukrainians "in the language of threats, military and economic pressure". "From our side, we are ready to discuss new conditions for the coexistence of Ukraine and Russia.

Source: The Star April 28, 2019 08:15 UTC