Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov revealed on Thursday that France used informal channels to establish a line of dialogue concerning the Ukraine conflict sidestepping Kiev's involvement.
Addressing the media, the minister stated that Paris approached Russia several times through "closed channels" to establish a dialogue on the Ukrainian issue. He emphasized that his French colleagues specified it would be done without any Kiev participation.
However, Lavrov admitted France has been one of the main champions of sending monetary and military aid to Ukraine, as well as training its troops.