MOSCOW, April 25 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will block all attempts to distort the Geneva agreement reached last week on settling the Ukrainian crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.
“To complain to us that we have signed something in Geneva that legitimizes the actions of the current regime [in Ukraine] and demand that we take some de-escalating steps only in the southeast, is simply a lie. Therefore, we will insist on respecting the Geneva Accords and will categorically reject attempts for them to be distorted," Lavrov said during a CIS Youth Diplomats Forum.
“US propaganda power has always been aimed at and continues being aimed at distorting the picture of what is happening in Ukraine, smearing the Russian Federation and smearing those who protest against the illegitimate actions of powers trying to ban the Russian language," he added.
Lavrov earlier said Washington cites “incredible arguments” justifying Kiev’s failure to comply with the Geneva agreements on Ukraine.
“When we demanded full commitment to the Geneva Accords, to begin with the release of the seized buildings in Kiev, you know what the US replied?” Lavrov asked, referring to a recent statement by US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland.
In an interview with CNN earlier this week, Nuland said: “You can’t compare the situation in Kiev, where now everything that is still being held by protesters is being held with licenses and with the agreement of the government of Ukraine, with the agreement of the Rada, or with regular leases from the owners of the buildings.”
Top diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the US and the EU met in Geneva on April 17 and approved a statement calling on the sides in Ukraine to refrain from violence, extremism and provocations, disarm militants and launch a national dialogue on constitutional reform. Despite Kiev’s promises to lay down arms, attacks on pro-federalization protesters continue.
Federalization supporters in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Gorlovka, Slaviansk and Kramatorsk have refused to recognize the legitimacy of the current Ukrainian government and are urging interim authorities to hold referendums similar to the one held in Crimea last month, which led to the republic's reunification with Russia.
