US welcomes moves by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine
WASHINGTON
(AP) — The White House on Friday welcomed as a "good development" moves
by pro-Russian insurgents to leave government buildings they had seized
in eastern Ukraine.
Local
patrols by steelworkers have forced the pro-Russian insurgents to
abandon the government buildings they had seized in the Ukrainian city
of Mariupol. The move is a setback to forces that have established
footholds in eastern Ukraine as they demonstrated opposition to the
interim Ukrainian government in Kiev.
"We
certainly welcome any indication that separatists who ... have seized
buildings, who have set up roadblocks, stockpiled weapons, are vacating
buildings and ceasing the kinds of activities that have only
destabilized the situation in Ukraine and led to confrontations and
violence," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.
"So that would certainly be a good development," he said.
Carney noted that the moves come a little more than a week before a May 25 election to choose a permanent government
The
U.S. and its allies are working to help ensure that the elections go
forward problem-free, and have warned Russia against trying to influence
the outcome.
"The situation is calm and preparations are on track," Carney said. "That's certainly a good thing and a welcome development."
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