01:37Russia: Poroshenko should "think twice" before attacking Donetsk Airport - Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to think twice before acting on a vow to retake Donetsk Airport from DPR forces, the American stated during a joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Sochi on Tuesday. Kerry was responding to reports that Poroshenko made the comments at the premier of a documentary ‘Airport’, which tells the story of the embattled Donetsk facility.
The comments are allegedly in violation of the Minsk agreement, according to the Kremlin. Kerry went on to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lavrov for “reiterating their desire to see Minsk fully implemented." Finally Kerry urged “Everybody who has control over anybody” to help implement the Minsk agreement.
Kerry is in Sochi on his first visit to Russia since 2013. As well as Ukraine the diplomat discussed Syria’s war and the Iranian nuclear deal. According to a statement released by US State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf, the talks are aimed at maintaining a direct line of communication with Russian officials.
Lavrov and Kerry already held talks in March during the Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland, but this is the first time since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis that the US Secretary of State has travelled to Russia.
01:37US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to think twice before acting on a vow to retake Donetsk Airport from DPR forces, the American stated during a joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Sochi on Tuesday. Kerry was responding to reports that Poroshenko made the comments at the premier of a documentary ‘Airport’, which tells the story of the embattled Donetsk facility.
The comments are allegedly in violation of the Minsk agreement, according to the Kremlin. Kerry went on to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lavrov for “reiterating their desire to see Minsk fully implemented." Finally Kerry urged “Everybody who has control over anybody” to help implement the Minsk agreement.
Kerry is in Sochi on his first visit to Russia since 2013. As well as Ukraine the diplomat discussed Syria’s war and the Iranian nuclear deal. According to a statement released by US State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf, the talks are aimed at maintaining a direct line of communication with Russian officials.
Lavrov and Kerry already held talks in March during the Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland, but this is the first time since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis that the US Secretary of State has travelled to Russia.