US Plans to Supply Weapons to Kiev May Disrupt Conflict Settlement - Lavrov

Russia's Foreign Minister said that the plans of the United States to supply weapons to Kiev may disrupt the settlement of Ukrainian conflict.

MOSCOW, February 8 (Sputnik) — The plans of the United States to supply weapons to Kiev may disrupt the settlement of Ukrainian conflict, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on its official Facebook page Sunday, citing Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

On Saturday Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry held a meeting within the framework of the Munich Security Conference.

"Plans to supply military equipment and weapons to Kiev, that are being discussed in Washington, are fraught with unpredictable consequences and bear a threat of disrupting the efforts of political settlement of the conflict in the southeast of the country," Russian foreign minister said.

US senators have repeatedly urged the provision of lethal assistance to Kiev, while a number of European states, including Finland, France and Italy, have opposed this option.

Speaking in Munich, German Chancellor Angela Merkel ruled out any possibility of arms delivery to the conflict-torn country stressing that it would not help to solve the crisis.

The conflict in southeastern Ukraine escalated in the first weeks of January, despite a ceasefire signed by the parties in September 2014.

According to the UN estimates, over 5,000 people have been killed in Ukraine since the beginning of the clashes in April 2014.