Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his country is willing to continue dialogue with the West over Ukraine. At a news conference in Moscow, Lavrov says the dialogue must be honest, partnership-like, and without attempts to show Russia as a party to the conflict.

He also says Russia will push for an investigation into reports of snipers cutting down scores of protestors in Kiev's Independence Square during the violence preceding Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's ouster.

A recently disclosed telephone call between Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton indicated the snipers may not be linked to Yanukovych, as has been claimed by his opponents.

Russia has branded EU concern over Ukraine's democracy "fake", and urged an international independent probe into the snipers case.