Russia Says it Won't Intervene in Ukraine

Moscow pledged Tuesday it would not intervene in the crisis in neighboring Ukraine but said the country should not be forced to choose between Russia and the West.

"We confirmed our principled position of non-intervention in Ukraine's internal affairs and expect that everyone follows similar logic," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We are interested in Ukraine being part of the European family, in all senses of the word," he said after talks with Luxembourg counterpart Jean Asselborn.

But he added: "We agree that... it is dangerous and counterproductive to force Ukraine into a choice -- either you are with us or against us."

His remarks signaled an apparent softening of Moscow's stance after harsh statements both by Lavrov's own ministry and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday.

Medvedev had accused Ukraine's new leadership of waging an "armed mutiny" and said there was no one for Moscow to communicate with in Kiev.