UK uses Russia meeting to restate support for Ukraine’s sovereignty

LONDON (Reuters) – British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Thursday she had restated British support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in a meeting with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Stockholm.

“Met Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in Stockholm @OSCE. I re-stated the UK’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty,” Truss said on Twitter. In a statement, the British Foreign Office said Truss had “expressed concern about rising tensions across Europe” and had urged the Russian government to de-escalate the situation.

“The ministers also discussed the situation in Belarus, and the Foreign Secretary urged Foreign Minister Lavrov to use Russia’s position of influence to encourage the Lukashenko regime to enter talks with opposition leaders, mediated by the OSCE,” the statement added.