Russia ready to continue dialogue with Ukraine, West abuzz over sanctions

MOSCOW, March 9 (NsNewsWire) — Russia said Saturday it was willing to continue dialogue with the current Ukrainian authorities, while western countries were abuzz over forming alliance against Russia and threatening to resort to sanctions.

“We are ready to continue the dialogue on the understanding that the dialogue must be honest, partnership-like, without attempts to show us almost as a party to the conflict,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

He also said Moscow would push for an investigation into allegations that snipers cut down scores of protestors in Kiev’s Independence Square and urged the international community to probe the case, reports Xinhua.

Stressing that Russia does not expect a new cold war, Lavrov said Friday that Moscow and the West could seek some common ground to solve the Ukraine crisis through dialogue.

Commenting on the situation in Crimea, the epicenter of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine since Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by parliament on Feb. 22, Lavrov said the scheduled referendum on March 16 reflected the common will of the Crimea people.

He also warned the United States not to impose any sanctions on Moscow, as Washington would inevitably be hit in return.

Uneased by Russia’s stance on the Ukraine crisis, the United States was busy forming alliance against Russia and threatening to resort to sanctions.

In fact it has imposed visa bans and financial sanctions since Thursday on a number of Ukrainians and Russians it claims responsible for the crisis.

Washington said sanctions will be furthered if Russia does not withdraw its forces back to their bases in Crimea.