Russia optimistic about resolution of Ukraine crisis

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday that Russia saw grounds for optimism on the resolution of the Ukraine crisis, while stressing that military intervention should not be an option.

In a speech at the ongoing 51st Munich Security Conference, Lavrov said negotiations over the Ukraine crisis would continue in the future and that his country believed "there are good grounds for optimism on issue recommendations for conflict resolution", Xinhua news agency reported.

"Russia would be committed to peace. We would like to see a withdrawal of heavy weapons. We would like to see a direct dialogue between Kiev and Donetsk," Lavrov said, adding that "the Ukraine crisis cannot be resolved by force".

The minister also criticised the West for trying to "blame Russia for anything" and disregarding his country's interests.

"The world is at a turning point," said Lavrov. "If opportunistic decisions were taken, we may lose control of global governance."