Serious discussion of collective security without Russia is utopia, road to nowhere - Lavrov

MOSCOW. Aug 20 (Interfax) - Moscow cannot agree to a situation when collective security issues will be addressed in relation to the Ukraine crisis without Russia, that's a utopia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We cannot agree with the proposal that the issues of security, collective security be addressed without Russia. That will not happen. We have explained multiple times that Russia does not exaggerate its interests, but we will ensure our legitimate interests firmly and harshly," Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow.

"I am sure that the West, above all the United States, is perfectly aware that a serious discussion of the provision of security without Russia is a utopia and road to nowhere," Lavrov said.

Russia is ready to continue negotiations with Ukraine in any format, however, a potential summit should be thoroughly prepared and finalize the negotiating process, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

"We are ready for any formats," Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow.

"However, whenever we talk about summits, they need to be prepared very thoroughly at every preceding stage so that summits do not deteriorate the situation but actually finalize the negotiations, which we are ready to continue," he said.