Resumption of talks in Normandy format has been affected by Ukraine’s sabotage attempt in Crimea, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a joint press briefing after talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Yekaterinburg.

"We have also assessed the prospects and possibilities of a resumption of dialogue in the Normandy format. Ukraine attempted to commit sabotage in Crimea. As a result, Russian soldiers lost their lives. It did affect the dialogue in the Normandy format" said the Russian foreign minister.

Lavrov said that Moscow has irrefutable evidence of the Ukrainian side preparing acts of sabotage in the Crimea.

"Russia is open to provide further evidence to its western partners. We do not hide the fact that we know, and we show people who are detained and their testimonies. Of course, we can not show all on TV, but we have compelling evidence that this was a sabotage, which had been planned for a long time, through the intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, and was aimed at destabilizing the situation in Crimea. We are ready to provide further evidence of our western partners who really wish it never happens again. For this purpose, it is necessary to pressure Kiev,” he said.