Federal State Is Only Solution For Ukraine, Says Lavrov

Making Ukraine a federal state is the only way to stabilize situation in the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

 “We want to understand, who exactly will represent legitimate authorities in Kiev. In this regard we have a proposal: first of all, a constitutional reform should be held, so that interests of all Ukrainian citizens and regions are respected. This is the only basis for forming legitimate authorities, legislative and executive, central and regional,” Lavrov told members of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament.

 “And we are convinced that the situation in the country can be stabilized only through making Ukraine a federal state,” he continued.

Russia Won’t Revise Crimea Reunification Deal – Lavrov

Moscow’s reunification treaty with Crimea is not subject to revision, Lavrov told his US counterpart John Kerry on Thursday.

“Lavrov stressed that the decision to reunify Crimea with Russia, which reflects the will of the majority of its residents, won’t be revised and should be respected,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The two top diplomats discussed ways to overcome the political crisis in Ukraine and efforts that the international community should undertake for the purpose, including an observer mission to monitor human rights and ethnic minority issues.

Lavrov also informed Kerry about the “ongoing violence by ultranationalist and extremist forces.”

The most serious geopolitical showdown between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War was sparked by the issue of Crimea, previously an autonomous republic within Ukraine with a Russian-speaking majority.

Crimea refused to recognize the legitimacy of the government in Kiev that came to power amid often violent protests last month and sought reunification with Russia after 60 years as part of Ukraine.

Source: RIA Novosti

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