BEIJING, April 15. /ITAR-TASS/. Statements by Ukraine's parliament-appointed Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, that the authorities in Kiev are ready for talks with representatives from south-east Ukrainian regions are a correct but belated step, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after meeting Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Tuesday.

Initiatives advanced on Yatsenyuk's visit to the region invited local participation in talks on constitutional reform and other lawful demands. They "are certainly a correct step, but a very late one,” Lavrov said.

“A month and a half have passed since the state coup. Those who seized power did nothing and sent no signals to residents of south-east Ukraine except threats and ultimatums,” he added.