You're reading: Lavrov criticizes absence of negotiations clause in Poroshenko peace plan

 The absence of a clause on negotiations in Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's peace plan for the eastern Ukraine goes against the Geneva statement adopted in April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"The absence of a negotiations clause is a radical departure from the Geneva statement," Lavrov told journalists in reply to a question from Interfax during a visit to Saudi Arabia.

"Most of the plan's clauses look like an ultimatum: here you are, having several days, a week. All those who disagree with the incumbent authorities and the way they have come to power, please lay down arms or leave Ukraine at all, and then we might possibly look whether you've committed some serious crimes and then you might possibly be pardoned," Lavrov said.