The Embassy of the United States in Russia has issued a statement with responses to the claims made by the President of Russia V. Putin during the press conference on the 4th of May, 2014.

Claim:  We need to return to the February 21 agreement, which the opposition failed to implement.

Response:  As part of the agreement, the Ukrainian Parliament (the Rada) passed a bill to return Ukraine to the 2004 Constitution. Under the terms of the agreement, Yanukovych had 24 hours to sign this legislation, after which the protesters would need to evacuate certain government buildings and take other de-escalatory steps.  Instead of signing the legislation, Yanukovych left Kyiv and ultimately Ukraine.  Yanukovych is the one who failed to implement the February 21 agreement. Yanukovych’s party has moved on, voting in favor of legislation removing him from office and establishing a new government.

–          Ambassador Power:  “It was Yanukovych…