MOSCOW. April 2 (Interfax) - Moscow has expressed to Washington its concerns over the decision made by the NATO council of foreign ministers.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with United States Secretary of State John Kerry by telephone, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website.
"Russia underscored the need for intense joint efforts to launch broad intra-Ukrainian dialogue in the interests of promoting national accord on a basis acceptable for all its regions. It expressed concern with the decisions of the ministerial meeting of the NATO Council and the NATO-Ukraine Commission, which do not help with the implementation of this task," the ministry said.
"Kerry reassured him of the firm course towards de-escalation of rhetoric and continuing the search for negotiated approaches with respect to the political resolution of the crisis in Ukraine," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Lavrov and Kerry have agreed to continue close contacts, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"The parties also touched upon the subject of the Middle East peace process in the wake of another deadlock in Palestinian-Israeli talks," the statement said.