Russia urges Ukraine to hold direct talks with separatists in eastern Ukraine.

According to RIA news agency on February 3, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Kyiv to negotiate directly with separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, while warning against blaming Moscow for the conflict.

Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that Moscow supports the separatists but rejected Western accusations that Russia provides them with money, weapons, and troops.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. (Source: AFP/VNA)

According to Reuters and THX, the Russian Foreign Minister also accused the US of sponsoring efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine through military means rather than diplomatic means.

On the same day, Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos announced that he had been invited to Moscow for talks with his Greek counterpart Sergei Shoigu in the near future.

He added that he had met with the Russian ambassador to discuss strategic cooperation between Greece and Russia and confirmed that he had received an invitation to Moscow, but did not provide further details.

In a related development, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on February 3 urged all parties to end the dangerous escalation in the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

According to VNA