Lavrov: Rebels should be at the table on Ukraine

VIENNA (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says any new international negotiations on easing Ukrainian tensions should include pro-Russia rebels in the east and south of Ukraine.

Lavrov says he is not against a follow-up meeting to the April 17 round in Geneva, where he was joined by Ukraine Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and EU representative Catherine Ashton.

But he told reporters Tuesday that such a meeting would not “have any added value” unless representatives of the rebels are also invited.

The previous Geneva meeting called for the dissolution of all illegal military formations in Ukraine. It also said those occupying buildings must leave them and be disarmed and suggested an amnesty for all anti-government protesters.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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