Russia's Lavrov says West wrong to blame Moscow over Ukraine

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a news conference at a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Basel December 5, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticised the West on Friday for what he said were constant attempts to blame Russia for the crisis in east Ukraine and said Moscow was not isolated over the conflict.

Lavrov reiterated Moscow's calls for Kiev to hold direct talks with pro-Russian rebels fighting government troops in eastern Ukraine, saying it "makes no sense" to seek ways out of the conflict without the separatists' involvement.