Lavrov emphasized the "internal conflict in Ukraine" remains a serious destabilizing factor.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Russia will "toughly seek an end to discrimination against Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine" and is ready to remain a "mediator" in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Donbas.

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"Of course, we will toughly seek an end to discrimination against Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine," he said during the "government hour" in the Federation Council, according to an UNIAN correspondent in the Russian Federation.

At the same time, Lavrov emphasized the "internal conflict in Ukraine" remains a serious destabilizing factor.

"It can be overcome only through the consistent implementation of the Minsk package of measures approved by the UN Security Council. And this requires, of course, a direct dialogue between the parties. This is what is being written in the final document of the Normandy Four summit adopted in Paris on December 9. We are ready to continue carrying out intermediary functions within the framework of the TCG," he added.