Lavrov Says U.S. Must Press Ukraine to End Military Campaign

Russia's foreign minister urged U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday to use his influence over Ukraine's leaders to convince them to suspend a military offensive in the separatist east.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov "urged the United States to use its influence with the Kiev authorities to nudge them toward a more realistic assessment of the situation, making them realize the hopelessness of using force to resolve a domestic conflict," the Russian foreign ministry said after the two diplomats spoke by telephone.