Poroshenko Threat of Martial Law Obstructive to Peace: Russian Official

Everyone’s waiting for the reconciliation and not the implementation of martial law in the eastern self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s republics, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Nebenzya said.

MOSCOW, December 30 (Sputnik) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s hints at Kiev imposing martial law in the eastern Ukrainian self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's republics (DPR and LPR, respectively) are obstructing peaceful dialogue, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Nebenzya said Tuesday.

"The announcement is, of course, completely non-constructive; everyone's waiting for the settlement of the situation and not the implementation of martial law," Nebenzya said.

Poroshenko said during a press conference on Monday that Kiev was ready to impose martial law in the country's east should the peace process be interrupted.

"The threat of imposing military actions doesn't help in instigating dialogue and may undermine the peace process," Nebenzya added.

On Monday, Poroshenko told reporters that Kiev will do everything possible to prevent the ongoing standoff in the country's southeast from turning into a long-term deadlock.

The current Ukrainian crisis escalated in mid-April when Kiev launched a military operation to suppress the independence supporters of Luhansk and Donetsk regions who refused to recognize the coup-imposed central government.

A much-awaited ceasefire agreement, brokered by Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, was signed between the conflicting sides in September. Following the implementation of the ceasefire, both Kiev and the DPR and LPR authorities have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce. The leaders of both breakaway republics have claimed that Kiev is using the ceasefire to prepare a new attack.