Lavrov says too early to talk about mediators in negotiations between Moscow, Kyiv

Moscow: It is premature to talk about any mediators in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"We are ready for negotiations, if someone has interesting ideas, we will be ready to listen to them. Ukrainian negotiators did not talk about mediation as such, at least now, at the previous stages ... It is too early to talk about mediators at this stage, in my opinion," Lavrov told reporters following a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Moscow.

The Russian side first wants to get an answer to the latest version of the draft peace agreement, which was submitted more than 10 days ago, the minister added. 

The decision is likely to further ratchet up tensions with Moscow, after Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, said weapons sent to Ukraine would be a “legitimate target” and warned of the risk of the conflict escalating into World War Three.