Russian FM: Russia still to meet with Ukraine

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia is still planning to meet with Ukrainian officials at an international conference in Geneva on Thursday.

One day after Ukraine's first military action against a pro-Russian uprising in the east of the country, Lavrov said in a Wednesday press briefing with his Vietnamese counterpart that the Geneva talks "remain on the agenda." Russia has repeatedly threatened to disrupt the talks if the Ukrainian government uses military force against pro-Russian militants in the east of the country.

Since Ukraine's Russia-leaning President Viktor Yanukovych fled in February following months of protest, Russia has pushed for the Kiev government to change the constitution and decentralize the government.