Interfax: Lavrov: Russian visit of Poroshenko is not on the table

MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax) – A Russian visit of Ukrainian President Elect Petro Poroshenko is not on the table, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“A Russian trip of Poroshenko is not being considered or discussed by diplomatic or any other channels,” Lavrov told a press conference on Tuesday while answering an Interfax question.

Interfax asked whether the situation in southeastern Ukraine might hinder Russia-Ukraine normalization. “As to the recent events, let me remind you that Petro Poroshenko made a promise to unite the country in his election campaign. He said yesterday his first trip would be made to Donbas but they have a real war there so far,” the foreign minister noted.

“He [Poroshenko] said that the so-called counterterrorist operation should be rapidly brought to an end but suggested that should be done through intensification,” Lavrov recalled.

“If there are plans to suppress resistance in the southeast by the army powered with heavy armaments, the National Guard, Right Sector and their ilk before the inauguration of Petro Alexeyevych Poroshenko so that he comes to Donbas as a victor, I do not think that will create a good environment for the cordial welcome to the Donetsk region,” he said.

“The military operations must be stopped immediately,” the minister stressed.