On August 15, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov met with Frank-Walter Steinmier, foreign minister of Germany at the opening ceremony of a summer school “Ways of development of the energy sector. Contemporary challenges” in Yekaterinburg. After the ceremony, the foreign ministers exchanged “their views of the most important international problems, including the realization of the agreements with Minsk, which had to regulated the crisis in the eastern part of Ukraine” - the Foreign Ministry of Russia reports.

In the meeting Steinmeier urged Russia to reduce tensions with Ukraine in Crimea and to comply with the Minsk agreements designned to end the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine. In addition, Steinmeier expressed his concern at the increase tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Moreover, the Minister appealed to both countries should took a step back from a looming confrontation along the border in the Crimea.

The Steinmeir’s appeal was in response to the statement of Vladimir Putin, in which the president of Russia formally accused Ukraine of using terrorist tactics to provoke a new conflict in Crimea. Russian authorities claim that, as a result of an attack by “saboteurs prepared by the intelligence services of the Ukrainian Army” a Russian soldier and aFSB company commander was killed, while 10 Russian servicemen were injured. Kiev categorically denies any terrorist or spying activity in Crimea and accuses Russia of provocation.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that Russia was ready to present evidence of the Ukrainian incursion into Crimea. Lavrov also said that Russia will continue to mantain diplomatic relations with Ukraine, despite earlier announcements about their severing, but warned that the final decision on this matter is up to the President of Russia.

Read more (Reuters)
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