Kiev authorities do nothing to eliminate causes of crisis — Lavrov

The Kiev authorities do nothing to eliminate the causes of the crisis, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday after a meeting with his colleague from Mozambique Oldemiro Baloi. 

"Geneva agreements on Ukrainespecify no timefrime, but measures should be taken urgently", Lavrov stressed. The agreement is not fulfilled, first of all, by those who have seized power in Kiev, the foreign minister added. 

"Everything points to the fact that the Kiev authorities are not able to control extremists, or do not want to control them," the foreign minister said. The main thing now is to prevent any kind of violence in Ukraine, Lavrov added. “It is the first clause of the Geneva agreements, the first requirement,” the minister stressed. “This part of the Geneva agreement is not fulfilled, but on the contrary, steps are taken by those who seized power (in Kiev) in violation of the Geneva agreements,” Lavrov said.

“We are concerned that instead of confirming the responsibility for the situation, Kiev and the West-European countries are trying to make Russia responsible,” he said. “There main proof is the Russian weapons in the conflict zones. It is ridiculous - no other weapons have ever been there,” Lavrov added.

Kiev’s statement that the Geneva decisions are not valid for Maidan are unacceptable, the diplomat noted.

“The buildings in Kiev, which have been seized by force in the beginning of the events in Ukraine, are not freed now, the streets remain blocked, the ‘Maidan’ continues to boom,” the foreign minister said. “The leadership appointed by the Verkhovna Rada, say openly the Geneva decisions are not valid for ‘Maidan’, because, as they say, Kiev’s municipal administration had decided ‘Maidan’ may remain and it is legitimate. This is absolutely unacceptable," Lavrov stressed.

“Those who intentionally aim at instigating a civil war obviously hope to spark off an enormous, serious and bloody conflict, are conducting a criminal policy,” Lavrov said. “We (Russia) will not be only condemning this policy, but thwarting any manifestations of such policy as well," the diplomat said, adding that "shooting at unarmed people on the Easter nightis beyond any reason."

"Instead of giving ultimatums and threatening us with sanctions, Washington should realize in full measure its responsibility for those people they brought to power in Kiev," Lavrov noted. "Attempts to isolate Russia are absolutely prospectless, as it is impossible," the minister emphasized.