Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a live nationwide broadcast call-in in Moscow, Russia on June 7. (REUTERS Photo)
MOSCOW, June 7 (Reuters): President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned Kiev of "very serious consequences for Ukrainian statehood" if it were to launch military action against pro-Russian rebels in the east during the soccer World Cup, which begins in Russia next week.
Zakhar Prilepin, a Russian writer who advises rebels in the Russian-backed, separatist Donetsk region, asked Putin to comment during a televised call-in about the possibility of Ukraine launching military action.
"I hope that there won't be any provocations but, if it happens, I think it would have very serious consequences for Ukrainian statehood in general," Putin said.
