“You personally are obligated to stop the bloodshed and reach a peace agreement at any cost,” the pro-Moscow politician wrote in a message circulated on Tuesday by Russian state news agency Ria Novosti.
This is what Ukraine, the Donbass and Russia expect from you,” he said, adding that Kiev’s partners in the West would also welcome such a move.
Yanukovych, who is widely regarded as corrupt, was deposed by pro-Western protesters in 2014.
The 71-year-old has been living in exile in Russia since then.
In his home country, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison for treason in absentia.
Ukrainian media recently reported that the Kremlin wanted Yanukovych to be re-elected president.
