MOSCOW, April 23. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said the United States has a hand in the standoff in Ukraine.

“There is no reason not to believe that the Americans are running the show” in the Ukrainian crisis, Lavrov told the Russia Today TV channel on Wednesday.

He recalled US Vice-President Joe Biden’s visit to Kiev and its coincidence with the renewed anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine.

“It’s quite telling they chose the moment of the Vice-President of the US’ visit to announce the resumption of this operation because the launching of this operation happened immediately after John Brennon’s (head of the CIA) visit to Kiev,” Lavrov said.