Russian Foreign Minister Thinks Ukraine Should Maintain Non-Aligned Status

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the expansion of NATO is "error and provocation," undermining security in Europe.

At a press conference in New York, Lavrov said that in Moscow's opinion, the preservation of non-aligned status of Ukraine is the most important component of security in Europe, Censor.NET reports with reference to BBC Russia.

It is Lavrov's strong belief that Kyiv postponing the implementation of Free Trade Zone Agreement with the European Union returned "to the same thing as before the coupe d'etat" when former president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, who refused to sign the Association Agreement with the EU was overthrown.

This "return", says the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, cost of "thousands and thousands of lives." Lavrov also said that he discussed the situation with the discovery of mass graves in the Donetsk region with the UN Secretary General and Head of the OSCE and said that Russia will seek an open and independent investigation.