Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's comments in an "El Pais" supplement provided by "Rossiyskaya gazeta," via ITAR-TASS:
"Our position is absolutely clear: We want peace in Ukraine that can be achieved only through a wide, nationwide dialogue, involving all the country's regions and political forces," the minister said. Russia, the United States, European Union and Ukraine had reached the relevant agreement in Geneva on April 17, he added.
Lavrov said the Russian side was providing "active assistance in the creation of favorable conditions for the peaceful solution of serious problems Ukraine is facing."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has arrived in Canada for the first leg of his North American visit, which will eventually include an address before the U.S. Congress.
A rash of tweets from Konstantin Dolgov -- the Russian Foreign Ministry's special representative for human rights, democracy and the rule of law -- assail Kyiv and complain of the continuation of the conflict.
"Attempts by the 'war party' in Kyiv to disrupt the truce should be vigorously combatted by those who are truly interested in stopping the bloodshed":
And "We cannot allow a continuation of the killing of the inhabitants of southeastern Ukraine":
Nearly two weeks into the cease-fire, the Ukrainian military reports that pro-Russian forces in Donetsk fired on Ukrainian troop position in at least seven places overnight...
...and at least five places in Luhansk.
Interfax reports that around 300 supporters of the nationalist Right Sector Party are picketing in front of a presidential-administration building in an effort to persuade President Poroshenko not to sign the bills granting "special status" to parts of Donetsk and Luhansk and offering amnesty for non-serious crimes in eastern Ukraine.
Wonder if they know that Poroshenko is in Canada.
Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has said that Kyiv will not "legitimize" the Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics," Interfax reports.
He also suggested that only parts of eastern Ukraine fully under national control will be rebuilt at government expense, according to the same agency.
Nationalist Other Russia leader Eduard Limonov has suggested fellow oppositionist Boris Nemtsov should be lynched in Crimea, according to a report by the pro-Kremlin "Vzglyad" website. (The headline and lead suggest he also said Nemtsov's citizenship should be revoked, but there's no direct quote to that effect.) He accused Nemtsov and his ilk of "hatred toward his own people."
Nemtsov reportedly suggested recently that if he became president of Russia he would return annexed Crimea to Ukraine.