Russia: We will not allow Ukraine to join NATO.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Hungarian Foreign Minister and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto in the capital Moscow during his visit to Russia.

"WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT"

Speaking during the press conference portion of the meeting, Lavrov addressed the Ukraine crisis. He stated that the fundamental causes of the crisis must be eliminated, saying, "One of the reasons is NATO's eastward expansion and its attempts to draw Ukraine in. This poses a military threat to the Russian borders. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraine's accession to NATO is unacceptable. We will not allow it."

"WE ARE READY FOR NEGOTIATIONS"

Lavrov emphasized that the possibility of freezing the conflicts in Ukraine "is not a path to peace."