You're reading: Tsariov discusses Ukraine crisis resolution in Moscow

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin met with Ukrainian presidential candidate and leader of the South-East movement Oleh Tsariov in Moscow on April 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“Karasin shared his views over the four-party Ukraine meeting of
representatives from Russia, the European Union, the United States and
Ukraine held in Geneva on April 17. He stressed the importance of
establishing an intra-Ukrainian dialogue for taking Ukraine out of this
acute political crisis,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted
on its website on Saturday.

For his part, the Ukrainian politician said he was keen to establish
direct contact with the Kyiv authorities so as to clarify the positions
of the east and south of Ukraine on the country’s most pressing issues.

“Up until now all attempts to establish such a dialogue have
encountered Kyiv’s persistent reluctance to listen or discuss anything.
He [Tsariov] expressed hope that after the April 17 meeting in Geneva
the parties will be able to find mutually acceptable solutions and take
concrete steps to de-escalate tensions and restore safety in all of the
country’s regions,” the ministry said.

“The Russian diplomat noted that the internal political crisis must
be settled by Ukrainians themselves in close cooperation with the
special monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Russia is ready to provide the broadest
possible support in this,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.