Putin says will be hard to work with Ukraine's new leaders

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday it will be hard for Russia to build relations with Ukrainian leaders who come to power while fighting persists in the country's east. In the latest in a string of comments from Moscow casting doubt on the legitimacy of a presidential election scheduled for Sunday, Putin also said it would be more logical for Ukraine to hold the vote after a referendum on a new constitution. "It will be very hard for us to build relations with people who come to power against the backdrop of a continuing punitive operation in southern and southeastern Ukraine," Putin said, referring to the anti-separatist operation by government forces. In Bucharest, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden warned that undermining the May 25 election would bring greater costs for Russia - already subject to Western sanctions since its annexation of Crimea. Read More http://ift.tt/1tjL51h