Lavrov says Russia ready to resume Ukraine talks, condemns strikes on Iran

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow remained committed to reviving talks on Ukraine based on existing understandings with the United States, while also accusing Washington and Israel of destabilising the Caspian region through their actions against Iran.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev on Thursday, Lavrov said the “aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran” had adversely affected security and economic activity in the Caspian Sea region, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

“We are forced to state that the unprovoked armed aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran has had an extremely negative impact on both the Caspian Sea and its coastline,” Lavrov said.

He said Moscow believed the Caspian should remain “a zone of peace and cooperation” and criticised what he described as an “anti-Iranian coalition” strike on the Iranian Port of Bandar Anzali on March 18.

Lavrov said the port served the trade and logistics interests of all five Caspian littoral states and described the attack as “unacceptable”.

Turning to the Middle East, Lavrov said efforts to establish a Palestinian state had reached a deadlock, while also warning against overlooking developments in Lebanon.

“Speaking about the Middle East, we consider it important not to lose sight of what is happening in Lebanon, and especially the deadlock surrounding the creation of a Palestinian state, from which no exit is currently visible,” he said.

Lavrov added that crises in the Gulf and the wider Middle East should be resolved through political agreements involving all parties concerned.

On Ukraine, Lavrov reiterated Russia’s willingness to resume negotiations with Washington, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin had reaffirmed that position during a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

“We remain interested in resuming the negotiation process on the basis of the existing Russian-American understandings,” Lavrov said.

He added that Moscow expected agreements reached during talks in Alaska to be implemented, without providing further details on the arrangements.

By Aghakazim Guliyev