Russia's Lavrov says Moscow ready to push for peaceful solution in east Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen guard their position in the village of Luhanska, Luhansk region January 24, 2015. REUTERS/Oleksandr Klymenko

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday that Moscow was ready to do everything it can to encourage rival sides warring in east Ukraine to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict.

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said the two held a phone call on Sunday in which Kerry proposed to widen the group of international players trying to help peace talks between Kiev and rebels in east Ukraine's regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.