Lavrov: Moscow Not Interested in Destabilizing Ukraine

Local Editor

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov stressed that his country is not interested in destabilizing the political situation in Ukraine.

"If Kiev, along with EU and US claims about arresting some Russian agents, they have to bring the evidence," he added.
Lavrov further added: "Those who approve Kiev coup-appointed government in its crackdown on anti-Maidan protesters in south-eastern Ukraine, should answer for this."

During a press conference with his Sudanese colleague Ali Karti, the Russian diplomat confirmed that the "Ukrainian citizens should have equal rights, there should not be ‘second-class people' who have to suffer from insults and humiliation from neo-Nazis."

Lavrov said that Russia is interested in a united, friendly Ukraine where all its citizens live together peacefully and have a chance to normally interact with their neighbors.
"This will be possible only if the country undergoes thorough constitutional reform," he added.
Lavrov also commented on Kiev's decision to bar some Russian journalists from entering Ukraine.

"The situation with Kiev's authorities, who deny entry to some journalists, is abnormal," he said. "But western countries are staying silent [about this]. The absence of any western reaction to this only shows the double standards [of the EU and the US]," he added.
"We would like to attract attention of the world community, Western countries and Journalist associations to this ‘abnormal' situation," Lavrov said.

He said he was going to present this issue at the meeting in the United Nations and the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe].
"Meanwhile, the US didn't give Russia any explanations about the visit of John Brennan, the CIA chief to Kiev, "said Lavrov.
On Saturday there came unconfirmed reports from a source from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, that Brennan visited Kiev and held a meeting with the country's leaders, as well as with representatives of Ukraine's security agencies.

According to these reports, Brennan influenced the decision by the Kiev authorities to crackdown on anti-Maidan activists in the eastern city of Slavyansk on Sunday.
However, CIA spokesman Todd Ebitz declined to comment on Brennan's travels only saying that the claim "is completely false."
"Like other senior US officials, Director Brennan strongly believes that a diplomatic solution is the only way to resolve the crisis between Russia and Ukraine," he added.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team