Russia has no intention to incorporate SE Ukraine

Ukraine crisis

MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday Russia has no intention to incorporate the southeastern regions of Ukraine.

The top Russian diplomat made the remarks in an interview with a local news channel, saying such plans contradict Russia's national interests.

Lavrov also said Russia is not discussing the need to bring peacekeepers to Ukraine or asking the UN Security Council to make some decisions, adding that Moscow urges the current Ukrainian administration to have dialogue with its people.

"We want Ukraine to stay whole, within its current borders with full respect for its regions," the minister said.

Later in the day, Lavrov called on the United States to prevent the use of force in southeastern part of Ukraine.

During a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Lavrov "drew attention to the disturbed situation in Ukraine's southeast, including ongoing threats of storming the buildings that are under control of protesters," the Foreign Ministry said in an online statement.

Lavrov urged the US to "use all its influence on the authorities in Kiev so as to prevent any use of force and push them towards a dialogue with regional representatives to create the conditions allowing comprehensive constitutional reform to be held," according to the statement.

Kerry reassured Lavrov that the US is working to "normalize the situation," said the ministry in the statement.