Ukraine’s government is illegitimate and Russian troops are not in control of Crimea, Russia’s Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has insisted. <br /><br />Speaking in Madrid, Lavrov again condemned the removal of President Victor Yanukovych and repeated Moscow’s assertion that armed men deployed to Ukraine’s Crimea region, were not Russian but ‘‘self-defence forces.’‘ <br /><br />‘‘There was an armed seizure of power and a legitimately elected president was overthrown. This was a violation of Ukraine’s constitution. If the international community is encouraging those, who are now attempting to rule our great, historical neighbour, then they should realise this sets a very bad and contagious example,’‘ Lavrov said. <br /><br />Lavrov’s words came ahead of crunch talks in Paris with US Secretary of State John Kerry. <br /><br />Despite sharp differences, both Washington and Moscow shows signs of prefering dialogue.<br /><br />Ukraine’s foreign minister, who is in the French capital, also called for a diplomatic way out of the crisis. <br /><br />“It’s quite clear that what happened in Ukraine was an agression from Russian side and the Crimea. But now we have to think about a way out, and way out not only about Ukraine, but way out and future of Russia, how Russia will deal what Russia did to Ukraine.”<br /><br />Despite efforts to bring the Ukrainians and Russians together, for the moment, it is thought unlikely Ukraine’s top diplomat will hold face to face talks with Lavrov.
