{{Russia’s foreign minister warned NATO not to offer Ukraine membership of the alliance as it gathered for a summit on Thursday and told the United States not to try to impose its will on the former Soviet republic.}}<\/p>\n
Sergei Lavrov also urged Kiev and pro-Russian rebels fighting Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine to back peace moves outlined by President Vladimir Putin and avert what he said could be a large-scale crisis in the heart of Europe.<\/p>\n
Putin unveiled the seven-point plan on Wednesday, the eve of a NATO summit at which the crisis in Ukraine will be discussed.<\/p>\n
“It is precisely at such a moment when a chance has emerged to start solving specific problems between Kiev and the militias that some sections of the Kiev authorities make demands for Ukraine to drop its non-aligned status and start joining NATO,” Lavrov said at talks with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a rights and security group.<\/p>\n
“It’s a blatant attempt to derail all efforts aimed at initiating a dialogue on ensuring national reconciliation.”<\/p>\n
Moscow has long said it will regard NATO membership for Ukraine as a national security threat.<\/p>\n
Underlining Moscow’s concerns about U.S. influence on Kiev, Lavrov said: “Some of our Western partners, including unfortunately the most influential players – the United States – want victory for NATO and a situation where America dictates its will to everyone.”<\/p>\n
“This concept of exclusivity, which President (Barack) Obama has repeatedly declared, can lead to no good and has so far led to no good,” he said.<\/p>\n
Lavrov promised Russia would take “practical steps” to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine and urged Kiev and rebel leaders to accept Putin’s proposals for a ceasefire.<\/p>\n
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