U.S., Russia try diplomacy over Ukraine crisis
- 10 years ago
After four-hour meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart in Paris --
Moscow and Washington are trying diplomacy in resolving the Ukraine crisis, ahead of the country's May elections.
Tensions have been high between the two countries, since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING:
"We agreed to work with the Ukrainian government and with the Ukrainian people in a wider way to reach fulfillment of peace on priorities areas such as minority rights , language rights, achieving disarmament of the irregular forces and provocateurs, and achieving inclusive constitutional reform and conducting elections under international observation."
But the U.S. Secretary of State was cautious.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SAYING:
"But any real progress in Ukraine must include a pullback of
Moscow and Washington are trying diplomacy in resolving the Ukraine crisis, ahead of the country's May elections.
Tensions have been high between the two countries, since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING:
"We agreed to work with the Ukrainian government and with the Ukrainian people in a wider way to reach fulfillment of peace on priorities areas such as minority rights , language rights, achieving disarmament of the irregular forces and provocateurs, and achieving inclusive constitutional reform and conducting elections under international observation."
But the U.S. Secretary of State was cautious.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SAYING:
"But any real progress in Ukraine must include a pullback of