Unacceptable for NATO member troops to be in Ukraine, says Russia

'The expansion of NATO, the absorption of Ukraine by the North Atlantic alliance, is a direct threat to the interests of the Russian Federation, a direct threat to our sovereignty', said minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that NATO membership for Ukraine was unacceptable as was the appearance of NATO member troops - even if they were operating there under a different flag.

"We explained to our colleagues today what President (Vladimir) Putin has repeatedly stressed: that the expansion of NATO, the absorption of Ukraine by the North Atlantic alliance, is a direct threat to the interests of the Russian Federation, a direct threat to our sovereignty," Lavrov said.

"We explained today that the appearance of armed forces from the same NATO countries, but under a false flag, under the flag of the European Union or under national flags, does not change anything in this regard. Of course, this is unacceptable to us."