Lavrov expresses concerns about reports on preparations by Ukrainian troops to storm Slovyansk
MOSCOW. May 3 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier had a phone conversation on Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry has reported.
" Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed appreciation to Russia for its assistance in the mission of Russian presidential envoy Vladimir Lukin to release the Western European officers in the city of Slovyansk," the report says.
Lavrov expressed concerns about the reports "on the preparation by the Ukrainian army with support from Right Sector to storm some cities in the southeastern regions of Ukraine, including the city of Slovyansk," the report says.
The Russian minister "called to prevent the European officers' departure of Slovyansk from being taken by the Kyiv law enforcement officials and extremists as a signal to attack and repetition of the bloodshed they perpetrated in Odesa."
Frank-Walter Steinmeier agreed that the violence should be stopped and that the agreements outlined in the Geneva statement of April 17 should be fulfilled, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a report.
