More Putin 'double talk'

President Vladimir Putin yesterday called for talks between Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine and the Kiev government on issues including "political organisation and statehood".

Asked about Putin's remarks, quoted by the Tass news agency, a Kremlin spokesman said the president was not calling for a separate state in the region, adding it should remain part of Ukraine and calling the crisis there a domestic conflict.

"Substantive, meaningful talks should begin immediately ... related to the issues of political organisation and statehood in southeastern Ukraine to protect legitimate interests of people living there," Putin was quoted as saying.

Many Western analysts have characterised previous "conciliatory" remarks by Putin as attempts to strengthen the hand of the more timid European nations in their negotiations with their more resolute neighbours on how to deal with Russia's expansionist ambitions.

Asked later about Putin's remarks, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov, told reporters in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk: "This is not a conflict between Russia and Ukraine; this is a domestic Ukrainian conflict."

Pressed on whether Moscow felt that "Novorossiya" - the name the rebels gave to the widely Russian-speaking region in dispute - should remain part of Ukraine, Peskov said: "Of course. Only Ukraine can reach an agreement with Novorossiya taking into account the interests of Novorossiya, and this is the only way to reach a political settlement."

Kiev and its allies in Europe and the USsay a new separatist offensive in its east has been backed by armoured columns of more than 1000 Russian troops. Nato has photographic evidence of this.

"It must be borne in mind that Russia cannot stand aside when people are being shot at," Putin told Russia's state TV Channel 1.

He did not acknowledge cross-border Russian intervention in the conflict.

He has repeatedly denied that Russian troops and armour are involved .

Asked if it was possible to predict the end of the crisis in Ukraine, RIA news agency quoted Putin as telling the TV channel: "No. It largely depends on the political will of current Ukrainian authorities."

Putin added that his meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Minsk last week was "good", calling Poroshenko a "partner with whom it is possible to have a dialogue".

On Saturday, Poroshenko said he was hoping for a political solution but warned that Ukraine was on the brink of full-scale war with Russia.