Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow is ready to support direct talks between the U.S. and North Korea. 

During the annual new year's press conference on Monday, the minister suggested all the parties involved in the North Korean issue halt confrontational actions, mentioning a roadmap for settling the North Korean nuclear crisis already proposed by Russia and China. 

Lavrov said that Moscow will actively support direct talks between parties involved in the North Korean issue if they stop confrontational acts. 

However, the Russian minister accused the U.S. of provoking tensions by stating that a military option is still on the table and by conducting military exercises on the Korean Peninsula.

He also expressed a pessimistic outlook on a meeting of foreign ministers from 20 countries in Vancouver on the North Korea issue, saying he does not expect any productive results.

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