The top diplomats of Russia and the U.S. agreed at their meeting on Wednesday that they should help Ukraine to implement an EU-brokered reconciliation deal, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
"We have agreed that Ukrainians need assistance to implement the February 21 accord," Lavrov said Wednesday.
However, a senior U.S. State Department official has denied that any such agreement took place.
"There were no agreements in this meeting, and there never will be without direct Ukrainian government involvement and absolute buy-in," the official said, Reuters reported Wednesday.
Lavrov met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Paris before heading to a meeting with top diplomats of France, Germany and Poland, who mediated the signing of the reconciliation agreement between the government and the opposition and put their signatures under it.
The agreement announced early presidential and parliamentary elections, a national unity government and a return to an earlier constitution. It would have allowed the erstwhile pro-Russia government to remain in power until early elections.
Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych was impeached by the parliament a day after the agreement was signed, enabling the opposition to take control and appoint interim leadership.
Russia has since accused Ukraine's new leaders, whom it considers illegitimate, of violating the deal.
Lavrov criticized Western countries for taking measures that "undermine dialog and cooperation" between various political forces in Ukraine.
Some of these measures have been taken within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Russia-NATO council, the Russian foreign minister said.
OSCE said Wednesday that it would send 35 unarmed military personnel to Ukraine to dispel concerns about "unusual military activities" in the south of the country.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
