Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is accusing the European Union of pressing Ukraine to choose closer ties with the bloc at the expense of relations with Russia.
Lavrov issued a warning to the West against interfering in the crisis in Ukraine, saying the country has to be allowed to resolve matters itself.
"We believe Ukrainians themselves should find a way out of the political crisis. This would be in the interests of the Ukrainian people. We expect all other partners of Ukraine to follow the same principle."
Lavrov has also criticized Western mediatory efforts in Ukraine.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to meet Ukrainian opposition leaders Vitaly Klitschko and Arseny Yatsenyuk in Berlin next Tuesday.
