Russia did not sign Kiev pact but wants peace: ministry

Russia has not signed the Kiev pact which aims to bring an end to the crisis in Ukraine, but welcomes any peaceful outcome, Moscow's foreign ministry said today.
In a statement, the ministry said the pact was signed "under the mediation of German, Polish and French diplomats".
But the lack of a Russian signature does not mean that "Russia does not want compromise," it added.
The Russian envoy, Vladimir Lukin, found when he joined in the negotiation that they were "already almost completed," the statement said.
Even though Russia did not sign off on the pact, "we are fully prepared to help the Ukrainians, if they request it, to bring the situation in the country back to normal," it added.

However, the Russian ministry emphasised that "any process as important as constitutional reform must involve all political forces and all regions," and must be submitted to a referendum.
It also called on the anti-government protesters in Ukraine to dissociate themselves from "extremists".