BASEL
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticized western countries for blaming Russia for the Ukrainian crisis and France over its failure to deliver two warships.
Referring to "some European countries and especially the U.S." after a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Basel, Switzerland, on Friday, Lavrov said: "If they blame us for everything that is happening, which is what they are constantly doing, this is not right, this won't work."
"They should not think of satisfying their ideological interest. They should only think of settling the conflict in Ukraine," he said.
Asked whether Russia was isolated during the OSCE meeting, Lavrov said, "l felt no isolation", adding that he had had 20 bilateral meetings during the main OSCE meeting.
Lavrov added: "Somebody is interested in continuing the conflict in Ukraine."
Asked about his reaction to the delay of the delivery of the first of two Mistral class helicopter-carrier warships which France built for Russia, Lavrov said: "I am a little fed up with this question. It is not our problem anymore, it is a problem of France's reputation. They have to fulfill all the obligations under the contract."
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