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Developments in eastern Ukraine

After heavy weapons withdrawal Kiev to have no more excuses — Lavrov

The foreign ministers of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine held a meeting in a Normandy format in Paris on Tuesday to discuss the Ukrainian settlement

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov EPA/YOAN VALAT

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

© EPA/YOAN VALAT

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Germany unsatisfied with implementation of Minsk agreements — government spokesman

MOSCOW, February 24. /TASS/. Russia hopes that after the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the east of Ukraine Kiev will have no more excuses for not fulfilling its political obligations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after a meeting of the Normandy Quartet’s foreign ministers on Tuesday.

"I hope that after the heavy weapons’ withdrawal is completed, there will be no more excuses for not settling political issues," the minister said.

He also pointed to the importance of fulfilment of all aspects of the Minsk agreements.

The situation with a ceasefire in Ukraine is much better than it was before, Sergey Lavrov also said.

Russian Foreign Minister has described as useful the meeting of the Normandy Quartet’s foreign ministers in Paris.

"It was a useful meeting," Lavrov said after the talks.

Lavrov apologized for leaving before a final statement was made public. He explained that he had to fly back to Moscow for a meeting with the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The foreign ministers of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine held a meeting in a Normandy format in Paris on Tuesday to discuss the Ukrainian settlement.

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Sergey Lavrov Eastern Ukraine

Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict

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Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

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Moscow Zoo gifts animals to North Korea — news agency

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French neo-Nazi ringleader liquidated near Avdeyevka — sources

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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"United States has no intent of conducting combat operations inside of Ukraine, nor are these forces going to be anywhere near the frontlines," Patrick Ryder said

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In this regard, Sergey Shoigu mentioned the operation that Tehran carried out "in retaliation for a blatant attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus"

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Moscow, Minsk pushing for peace even as 'war in the air' — Belarusian official

Pavel Muraveiko stressed that "the leaders of Belarus and Russia are doing everything possible and impossible to ensure peace and security on western borders"

Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

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Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

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Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

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Global community condemns use of terrorists in geopolitical struggle — Russian official

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Russian diplomat accuses US of coordinating Ukraine’s terrorist attacks

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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West views Europe as potential theater of military operations — Lukashenko

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