Moscow, May 27 (IANS): Russia is ready to cooperate with everyone who desires a faster solution to the Ukraine crisis, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.
"Moscow has been interested in a sooner settlement in Ukraine and Russia is ready to cooperate with everyone who wants the same," Xinhua quoted Lavrov as saying, referring to Ukraine's possible incoming president Petro Poroshenko.
The interests of the entire Ukrainian nation must be taken into account, including the "lawful demands" of the south-eastern regions, he said.
He said Moscow was not considering a visit of Poroshenko to Russia at the moment, adding that the billionaire would hardly be welcomed in Ukraine's eastern regions unless Kiev stops a military operation there.
At least 40 people, including two civilians, have been killed in fierce fighting between armed activists and government troops in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk since Monday, local authorities said.
On Monday, Poroshenko said that once sworn in office, he would end violence in Ukraine's eastern regions, harmonise relationship with Russia, forge ties with the European Union (EU), and resolve the dispute with Moscow over the status of Crimea.
Lavrov also accused the West of attempting to mount pressure on Moscow, saying it "blames Russia for nearly every conflict anywhere in the world".