Lavrov: Russia ready to conclude Ukraine deal after certain elements fine-tuned

WASHINGTON. April 25 (Interfax) - Russia will be ready to conclude a deal on settling the Ukraine crisis, but work should first be completed on a number of issues, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"The statement by the [U.S.] president mentions a deal, and we are ready to reach a deal. But there are still some specific elements of this deal which needs to be fine-tuned," Lavrov said in an interview with the CBS News television channel.

"And we are busy with this exact process," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump's statements that there is progress in efforts to settle the Ukraine conflict are based on facts, Lavrov said.

"The president of the United States believes, and I think rightly so, that we are moving in the right direction," Lavrov said.

There is a number of indicators that point to progress in these efforts, he said.

"President Trump is probably the only leader on Earth, who recognizes the need to address the root causes of the situation" in Ukraine, Lavrov said.

Trump also understands that Ukraine's accession to NATO is unacceptable to Russia, he said.

"We continue our contacts with the American side on the situation in Ukraine," Lavrov said.