Russian FM says impossible to isolate Moscow

Moscow, April 21: Asserting that any attempt to isolate Russia was bound to fail, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Monday urged European Union (EU) countries to make responsible and independent decisions on sanctions.

"Isolation has never led anyone to anything," Xinhua reported citing Lavrov as saying.

"Those trying to isolate in various situations various countries and various governments were in the end compelled to talk to those whom they wanted to isolate," Lavrov said adding it was impossible to isolate Russia from the rest of the world.

"We are a big, independent power which knows what we want," he added.

He urged the US to stop threatening Russia with sanctions over events in Ukraine while turning a blind eye to "atrocities" carried out by Ukrainian militants.

US Secretary of State John Kerry Saturday told Lavrov the full and immediate compliance of an agreement reached in Geneva last week during four-party talks was needed.

The document calls for the disarmament of "illegal armed groups" and an end to the occupation of the seized buildings in Ukraine's east.

The US State Department also said the next few days would be a pivotal period for all sides to implement the statement's provisions.

Lavrov said no deadline had been set in that agreement.

Noting calls to isolate Russia had been echoed in several European countries, the Russian top diplomat said he also heard some sensible, objective and "grown up" European Union voices.

IANS