Russia: "Ukraine does not have a desire to comply with the Minsk agreements" - FM Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticised the Ukrainian government for rejecting direct negotiations with the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DNR/LNR) in Moscow, Monday, suggesting that it was evidence that "Ukraine does not have a desire to comply with the Minsk agreements". In particular, Lavrov was referring to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin's recent statements from April 17, where he said to journalists that the OSCE could disclose positions to the self-defence forces if Kiev would directly negotiate with DNR and LNR representatives. Speaking at a joint press conference with the Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz, Lavrov stressed that the Ukrainian government has committed itself to direct negotiations with the DNR and LNR by signing the Minsk agreements. The Russian top-diplomat also noted that the Minsk agreements had not been fully implemented yet, stating that "both sides still have work to do regarding the full compliance with the obligations of the withdrawal of heavy weapons".