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Russia does not intend to send troops to Ukraine — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there were no Russian servicemen, agents or infiltrators in Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov EPA/LUONG THAI LINH/POOL
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
© EPA/LUONG THAI LINH/POOL

GENEVA, April 17. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the four-party meeting on Ukraine on Thursday that Russia did not intend to send troops to the territory of friendly Ukraine.

“We do not have the slightest desire to send troops to Ukraine. That contradicts Russia’s vital interests,” Lavrov stressed, adding Russia was not going to increase the number of its troops in Crimea.

Lavrov said there were no Russian servicemen, agents or infiltrators in Ukraine.

“There were Russian servicemen in Crimea who stayed in the territory of the Russian naval base. Its presence on Ukraine’s territory was absolutely legitimate,” the Russian foreign minister stressed.