Russia says doesn't want to partition E. Ukraine

MOSCOW, May 19 (KUNA) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday Moscow did not want to see partition of east Ukraine.
The eastern provinces of Lugansk and Donetsk "should be part of the new Ukraine," Lavrov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
These two provices, he added, have prepared themselves to be part of Ukraine. However, said Lavrov, Lugansk and Donetsk should be granted special status in line with the February 12, 2015 Minsk agreement.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko briefed British Prime Minister David Cameron on state-of-play of execution of the Minsk agreement.
He said Ukrainian forces withdrew heavy equipment from frontline under OSCE observors. Separatists said the government troops were deploying heavy equipment in the conflict zone.
The Minsk agreement calls for ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons, exchange of prisoners, delivery of humanitarian aid for people in need in east Ukraine and granting eastern provinces special status.
The Ukrainian parliament, however, considered the eastern provinces occupied territories and urged the international community to help Kiev recovered them.
The conflict in east Ukraine, which killed over 7,000 people and injured some 10,000 others, broke out after the West-backed opposition staged demonstrations against former president Viktor Yanukovic.
Donetsk and Lugansk declared themselves independent republics, and began fighting Ukrainian forces. (end) as.bs