Russia does not refuse negotiations on Ukraine.

APA's Moscow correspondent reports that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said this at a joint press conference on the results of his talks with his counterpart from the Republic of South Africa.

He stressed that his country has not given up negotiations on Ukraine.

"Russia does not refuse negotiations.

However, the more the West avoids negotiations, the more difficult the situation will be," the minister said.

According to Lavrov, Western countries directly tell Kiev that it is too early to negotiate with Moscow.