Putin says Ukraine economic blockade ‘a big mistake’

Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that the economic blockade of Ukraine’s separatist east by Kiev is ‘a big mistake’ because it cuts off the disputed regions from the rest of the country. Speaking at a press conference broadcast on Russian television from the G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, said: ‘I think it is a big mistake because they are removing their grip on these territories.’ Putin added that Moscow would discuss the blockade with Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko.