The Kremlin said Monday it respects the secession referendum in eastern Ukraine and hopes for a “civilized implementation” of the results through talks between Kiev and representatives in the east. , ratcheting up tensions between the West and Moscow. In its first comments since the referendum, the Kremlin appears to challenge the West and Kiev’s standpoint that it was illegitimate. The Kremlin statement said that Moscow welcomes all possible efforts to start negotiations between Kiev and separatist regions with the involvement of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. “Moscow views with respect the expression of the will of the people of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and expects that the practical implementation of the outcome of the referendums will be carried […]