Russia ready to de-escalate Ukraine crisis

MOSCOW - Moscow is ready to take practical steps toward the de-escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in line with the plan proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

"We hope these calls will be heard especially by Kiev, Donetsk and Luhansk. We are ready to ensure practical steps toward de-escalation together with the OSCE," Lavrov said at a meeting with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva.