Russia is ready to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine as part of negotiations aimed at clinching a wider settlement to end the fighting, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said  Tuesday.

The Kremlin said Monday that the issue of security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine would be an integral part of any possible settlement between the warring sides.

"We are ready to discuss security guarantees for the country that is now called Ukraine," Lavrov told a news conference.