Control Over Russia-Ukraine Border Should Be Discussed With Donbas - Lavrov

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The control over the Russia-Ukrainian border in the areas of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR, LPR) should be discussed with pro-independence forces in eastern Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday said during a joint press conference with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.

"Certainly, now at the time of hostilities there is a wish to put first the issue of restoring border control of the Ukrainian authorities at the full length of the border between Russia and Ukraine, but at the locations controlled by independence supporters this should be discussed with DPR and LPR. This is obvious, in my opinion," Lavrov said.

The border control issue is expected to be brought up at the upcoming summit of Ukrainian, Russian, German and French leaders in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. The summit, dubbed as Normandy Quartet, will focus on the implementation of the September 2014 peace deal.

Lavrov pointed out that independence supporters in Ukraine’s southeast had an experience of “quite constructive” cooperation with observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), who had monitored border crossings controlled by east Ukrainian militias.

Kiev wants to regain control over the entire border with Russia, claiming that Moscow has been shipping weapons and troops into eastern Ukraine to support local armed forces there.

Russia has denied backing independence supporters militarily. Instead, it has been urging for an all-inclusive dialogue on the Ukraine crisis.

Moscow is sure that the current talks on the Ukrainian crisis will end in a political settlement that will serve the interests of everyone, including minorities, Sergei Lavrov added.

Earlier in the day during a briefing in Moscow, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias brought up the issue of over 100,000 ethnic Greeks residing in eastern Ukraine.

“There are other minorities living in Ukraine, including Hungarian, Romanian, and Bulgarian. We believe that all of them need to be assured that the current processes in Ukraine will end with a political settlement that will take into consideration their interests as well,” Lavrov said.

The ministers met ahead of major Ukraine talks in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, which are aimed at implementing a ceasefire deal between the government in Kiev and pro-independence forces in the country's east.

Russia has been concerned for the well-being of the Russian-speaking minority in eastern Ukraine where militias are fighting against far-right volunteer battalions, as well as Ukraine's regular troops.

Lavrov, who is expected to travel to Belarus later in the day, underscored that the conflict could only be settled if all parties involved follow through on the provisions of the Minsk protocol which was agreed on in September 2014.

The deal called for a ceasefire, the creation of a demilitarized zone in the east and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the region.