Interfax: Lavrov criticizes suggestion Ukraine should choose between Russia, rest of world

(Interfax – February 1, 2014) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that statements that Ukraine should choose between relations with Russia and relations with the rest of the world are “counterproductive”, privately-owned Interfax news agency reported on 1 February.

“When (US Secretary of State) John Kerry speaks and says that Ukraine should choose who it is with – with the whole world or with one country, Kerry – with his experience, good sense – is the last person I would expect such propaganda from,” Lavrov said at a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kozhara on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Lavrov said: “at present fewer slogans are needed, and more care about the results of those efforts which the Ukrainian leadership is undertaking in order to move the situation in a peaceful direction”.

He noted that it is necessary to maintain relations as part of the whole Euro-Atlantic space. He said that Russia is a partner both of Ukraine ! and the European Union.

“We do not want there to be some behind-the-scenes manoeuvres which play the old card – either you are with us, or you are against us. This is thinking of the last epoch, which it is necessary to leave,” Lavrov said.

At the same time, he added that there is the feeling that understanding is growing in Brussels of the need for trilateral contacts between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union.