Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned there can be no solution to the crisis in Ukraine without the participation of the communities in the south east of the county.<br /><br />Lavrov, speaking following a meeting of the Council of Europe in Vienna, also said Ukraine’s presidential election set for May 25 must be put back until a new constitution has been discussed and agreed upon.<br /><br />He called on Kyiv to halt all military operations in the south east of Ukraine and refrain from attacks against its own people.<br /><br />The Russia diplomat rejected the idea of holding a new round of international talks in Geneva on easing tension in Ukraine.<br /><br />That, he said, would be like “going round in circles” and progress would be possible at talks only if representatives of Russian-speaking areas of the country were involved. <br /><br />Lavrov reminded Europe that the rights of minorities must be respected across the continent.
