By James Slavyanski
MOSCOW
Any attempt to put pressure on Russia for the conflict in Ukraine would be "hopeless," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday.
"Development is only possible on the basis of equality and mutual interests," Lavrov insisted, speaking after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome on Sunday.
Both officials expressed support for the Minsk protocol, a peace agreement signed on Sept. 5 with the aim of ending the conflict in the south east of the country.
The two diplomats also discussed affairs in the Middle East. Topics included the Israeli-Palestinian and Syrian conflicts, as well as Iran's ambitions in nuclear energy.
"The Middle East is a major problem and it is necessary to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate further," Lavrov said. "We are interested in discussing what can be done to overcome this crisis."
Relations between Russia and the U.S. have reached an all-time low since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. Relations have further deteriorated over allegations of Russian involvement in the armed conflict in south east Ukraine.
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