MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia is ready to act as a mediator in the settlement of the political crisis in Ukraine on condition that Ukraine asks for such help.
"There can only be one circumstance: if we are asked to do that. However, as far as I understand, such assistance is not needed: there are currently direct contacts between the president, the government, and the opposition," Lavrov told a press conference on Tuesday, responding to a Ukrainian journalist's question as to whether Russia is ready to help resolve the crisis in Ukraine.