- Title: Lavrov reaffirms need for political solution to Ukraine crisis
- Date: 25th May 2016
- Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (MAY 25, 2016) (REUTERS) DANUBE AND CITY VIEW EXTERIOR OF HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING RUSSIAN AND HUNGARIAN FLAGS ON FACADE PLENARY TALKS UNDERWAY RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, LISTENING HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, PETER SZIJJARTO, TALKING LAVROV TALKING PLENARY TALKS IN PROGRESS LAVROV AND SZIJJARTO ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS LAVROV SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "We have of course spoken about the Ukrainian crisis. There is no alternative to the political solution, no alternative to the Minsk agreements from last year, negotiations should be held between Kiev and Donbass but unfortunately it is not always successful so far. Hopefully, the telephone conversation of the leaders of the Normandy Four [Russia, France, Ukraine and Germany] will make it possible to settle the unsolved issues." JOURNALISTS SZIJJARTO SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, PETER SZIJJARTO, SAYING: "Quite surely, we will not accept an automatic procedure [on sanctions]. We would like to see the highest level of debate and a decision at the highest level in this matter, because we think this is such an important issue with which the main leaders of the European Union should deal with. Therefore, we expect to have a high level political debate and dialogue before any decision is made." JOURNALISTS LAVROV AND SZIJJARTO SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING SOVIET STAR ON TOP OF WORLD WAR TWO RED ARMY MONUMENT MONUMENT
- Embargoed: 9th June 2016 13:56
- Keywords: Ukriane NATO EU Russia sanctions
- Location: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- City: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
- Country: Hungary
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0014JB37LZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday (May 25) a political solution is the only way to resolve the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine and that difficult negotiations between Kiev and the pro-Russian rebels should continue.
"There is no alternative to the political solution, no alternative to the Minsk agreements from last year, negotiations should be held between Kiev and Donbass but unfortunately it is not always successful so far," Lavrov said in Budapest after meeting Hungarian foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto.
Hungary, one of the Kremlin's closest allies in Europe, re-iterated on Wednesday that there could be no automatic extension of the European Union's sanctions against Russia.
"Quite surely we will not accept an automatic procedure [on sanctions]. We would like to see the highest level of debate and a decision at the highest level in this matter, because we think this is such an important issue with which the main leaders of the European Union should deal with," Szijjarto told reporters.
Lavrov also with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at closed talks in Budapest. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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