Lavrov: Russia is interested in resolving the conflict near its border with Ukraine
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said that Moscow rejects the accusations that Russia seeks to maintain the conflict in Ukraine.
"Russia is interested in resolving the conflict near its borders, more than anyone else, despite the fact that periodically you hear the assertions that we want to artificially drag out the conflict, keeping it in a frozen state forever. This is an attempt to shift the blame on others," the Minister said, speaking at the Potsdam meetings at the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, TASS reports.
According to the Minister, it is necessary to make "vigorous efforts" to restore mutual trust in Europe, which has been undermined by the internal Ukrainian crisis.
"We all agree that the speedy and full implementation of the Minsk Agreements is still on the agenda. I emphasize that we are talking about basic European standards, providing for citizens' right to local self-government, and to freely use their native language," Lavrov said.