Ukrainian President Turchynov to Russia: stay out of Ukraine's business

Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov shot down Russian recommendations that Ukraine federalize. He asserted that "Ukraine is a unitary state" and Russia should focus on its own affairs.

"There are currently no prerequisites in Ukraine for federalization. Ukraine is a unitary state," said Turchynov.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met Sunday with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine. At the conclusion of their meeting, Lavrov stated that Russia was "convinced that federalization is a very important component of [Ukraine's] reform."

The Ukrainian president chastised Lavrov for his comments Monday, telling reporters "it seems to me that the Russian leadership should deal with the problems of the Russian Federation, not the problems of Ukraine."

[Interfax Ukraine News Agency]