Russia ready to cooperate with new Ukrainian authorities - Putin

He said this at a press conference in Singapore on Thursday, which was broadcast on Russian television channels.

"I hope that people who will lead the country in the future, whoever it may be, will come to the conclusion that there is no other way but a peaceful one. In any case, we will respect the choice of the Ukrainian people. We will work with everyone," Putin said.

At the same time, speaking about the exchange of persons held in Russia and Ukraine, he said that the "all for all" swap formula is correct. However, he again accused the Ukrainian side of disrupting the detainee exchange.

"The current authorities in Kyiv today have no desire to exchange illegally held persons," Putin said.

Earlier, at a press conference in Singapore, Putin said there was no point in holding a new meeting of the Normandy Four under the current situation in Ukraine.

op