(2004-11-25) — In an effort to soothe political tensions in the Ukraine following what observers called a fraudulent national election, Russian President Vladimir Putin today proposed that the United Nations “make the election legal.”

Mr. Putin, whose diplomatic foresight allowed him to congratulate Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich for winning the Ukrainian presidency even before the votes were counted, said the solution to the crisis need not be complicated.

“We know that legitimacy flows from the U.N. Security Council,” Mr. Putin said. “A quick vote on a resolution will give Mr. Yanukovich the credibility he lacks, thus ending the problem in our Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic…did I really say that, or just think it?”