Kerry, Lavrov Call For Peaceful, Prosperous Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have said that Ukraine should be a peaceful, stable, and prosperous bridge between Russia and Europe.

Speaking before meeting Lavrov in Paris on June 5, Kerry said the Ukrainian people should be "able to act as a bridge between East and West.”

He expressed hope that Washington and Moscow will "find a way to cooperate on how to make this happen."

Lavrov agreed, adding that Moscow would like to see all those who live in Ukraine "to be feeling equal, respected, and listened to, living in peace being a bridge, not being a pawn."

He said Russia would "like to see other countries like Iraq, Libya, Syria, many others also to be in peace, not to be used as a pawn."
Based on reporting by AP and ITAR-TASS