Russia, still no US accord on settling Ukraine crisis - Russian FM Lavrov
6 March 2014, 18:13 -- Russia and the US have yet to reach an accord on the situation in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters after meeting with his US counterpart John Kerry.
'Currently we cannot tell the world community that we have reached an accord,' he said.
'We have agreed that we will look again at the ideas that John Kerry gave me today on some of the upcoming steps,' Lavrov added.
'I will report to the president upon returning to Russia on how these meetings went and what issues were addressed,' Lavrov said.
Russia wants a better understanding of its Western partners' mean by an international mechanism for Ukraine, Lavrov said.
'We would like to get a better idea of what our partners mean when they suggest creating some international mechanism, of its composition,' he told reporters after meeting with his US counterpart John Kerry.
'The main thing for us - I reiterate - is to respect the agreements reached on February 21, primarily the agreement on constitutional reform, creation of a government of national unity, and elections after constitutional reform. The second most important aspect is that any process that can be supported should have the clear support of all regions of Ukraine,' the minister said.
'Primarily, we are concerned about Crimea and the other southeastern regions in this case,' Lavrov said.
Kerry says US has not yet made sanctions list of Russian officials - Rissian FM
The US's intention to impose sanctions against Russia only continues to build up pressure around the situation in Ukraine as a list of Russian officials hasn't been produced yet, said the Russian Foreign Minister following his talks with the US State Secretary John Kerry.
'They continue to build up pressure incessantly. The US announced it had some secret lists of Russian citizens who would be banned from entering the United States but he [John Kerry] has assured me there are no such lists yet. They have only ordered them to be drafted but that doesn't make much difference,' Lavrov said.
Any solution to Ukraine crisis must be backed by all regions, including Crimea - Russian FM Lavrov
Any international proposition to resolve the crisis in Ukraine should be supported by the whole country, including Crimea, according to the Russian Foreign Minister
He said, 'Any process that could be used to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, should gain support in all regions of Ukraine. First of all, we are concerned with the Crimea and other south-west regions of Ukraine,' Lavrov said.
Russia's Lavrov and US's Kerry meet in Rome over Ukraine
US Secretary of State John Kerry met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a Rome conference on Libya to continue discussions on Ukraine, a senior US official said on Thursday.
It is the second meeting in as many days between Kerry and Lavrov, who met in Paris on Wednesday to talks about the crisis over the crisis in Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula.
US, Russian FMs expected in Rome for Libya international conference
The chief diplomats of the United States and Russia are among the participants expected in Rome later on Thursday for an international conference aimed at mobilizing support for Libya's democratic transition.
As well as US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, other participants for the one-day talks include the foreign ministers of Germany and France, Libyan leaders and representatives of the United Nations.
Italy is hosting the event as Tripoli's former colonial master.
Ever since the ouster of Moamer Gaddafi following the NATO-backed uprising of 2011, the country's post-revolutionary rulers have struggled to assert their authority on militias and consolidate the rule of law.
Violence has increased in recent months, with armed groups targeting security personnel and foreigners. Several cases of execution-style killings have occurred in the restive city of Benghazi, the hotbed of the anti-Gaddafi uprising.
Amid the unrest, the country's highest political authority - parliament - has extended its mandate by one year, sparking violent nationwide protests. The mandate was originally due to expire in February.
Given the presence of Kerry, Lavrov and other stakeholders in the Ukrainian crisis, the conference risks being overshadowed by developments in Crimea.
Voice of Russia, dpa, Reuters, Reuters, RIA, Interfax
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