Following a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the press that differences remain between Russia and the West over the situation in Ukraine.
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Russia will, according to Lavrov, respect the result of the upcoming referendum in Crimea, but will not need any international structure to mediate in Russia-Ukraine relations.
He expressed deep concern that measures are not being taken to ensure safety on the streets of Ukraine and added that the crisis in the country is not the result of Russia’s actions.
Lavrov said Russia has no plans to invade eastern Ukraine.
Parallels were drawn between France and the Comoros and the UK and the Falkland Islands. However, Lavrov added that Crimea means more to Russia than the Falklands do to Britain.