The head of the Russian Federation centuries Putin said that Russia will protect the rights of Russian-speakers in Ukraine, And expressed the hope that " with weapons of force is not needed ".

" We will always protect ethnic Russians in Ukraine And the part of the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian nation, which feels inextricably not only ethnic, but also cultural, linguistic links with Russia and feels part of the Russian world, " said Putin at a press conference on the results of negotiations with President of Austria.

" We, of course, let us not only to watch but also to respond accordingly. I hope that with weapons of forces for this is not necessary ", - added the head.

according to him, Russia hopes that the rights of the Residents of Eastern Ukraine will be taken into account in the process of the peace process in that country.

" And We - Russia And I, as the head of the country, we wish to make rules for the peaceful process. This is due to the fact that I went to the upper house of the Russian Parliament to overturn the decision on the right to use military power in Ukraine, but hope that the peace process will develop in the direction of solution of questions of rights, legal rights of Residents, living in the Eastern part, " said Putin.

" we need to talk about changes in the basic law, about how people are to live there, And how they will be guaranteed their rights ", - added the head of the Russian Federation.

sections: Politics