Russia says to attend Ukraine talks if Paris, Berlin think it's useful

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a news conference following his meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias (not pictured) at the Foreign Ministry in Athens, Greece November 2, 2016. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday he was willing to attend four-way talks on the conflict in eastern Ukraine if mediators Germany and France believe the meeting can be useful.

On Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Paris and Berlin had invited the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia to attend the so-called Normandy Format talks in the Belarussian capital Minsk on Nov. 29.