Paris (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry are expected to meet today in the French capital to talk about possible diplomatic solutions to the tense standoff in the Ukraine. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who talked on the phone with Vladimir Putin, also favours dialogue and diplomacy.
After threats to invade the Crimea and the military exercises on the border to defend Russian citizens (and pro-Russia groups) in Ukraine, Lavrov today said in Madrid that the troops in Crimea are self-defence forces, not Russian troops, and therefore beyond Moscow's control.
However, he also left some room for diplomacy saying that it is up to Ukrainians and Crimea Russians to decide whether to accept international monitoring.
Ukraine's new government asked the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to set up a neutral group to monitor the situation. The latter is already planning to 35 observers to the country. The United States has backed the request.
The Ukrainian government accuses Moscow of invading its territory; for its part, Russia accuses Ukraine of violence against Crimean Russians.
Even China, which until now indirectly justified Russia's action, seems to want to give diplomacy a chance.
Cited by Xinhua, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who spoke with Putin by telephone, said, "that Russia can coordinate with other parties to push for the political settlement of the issue so as to safeguard regional and world peace and stability".
In fact, "China supports the proposals and mediation efforts of the international community that are conducive to reduction of tension," Xi also said.