Sergei Lavrov: Ukraine crisis artificially created for geopolitical reasons

Ukraine crisis was “created artificially for purely geopolitical reasons”, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

Sergei Lavrov confirmed Russia had contacts with Ukraine’s interim government but said Kiev was beholden to the radical right.

Russia, he said, was open to further dialogue with the West if it was “honest and partner-like”.

Ukraine’s interim Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya said he saw hopeful signs Russia might engage in talks.

“We have not sat and talked with Russians but we managed to send our message through intermediaries,” he said in Kiev.

“Russia’s position is not categorical, they are accepting this proposal and are considering it, so, there is some hope.”

He said it was too early to give more details of the proposal.

Ukraine’s Crimea region remains tense ahead of a self-declared referendum to be held on March 16 on whether to join the Russian Federation.