Russia now wants to send second aid convoy to Ukraine, says will help Ukrainians to agree among themselves

Russia wants to send a second humanitarian aid convoy to eastern Ukraine in the near future, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday after Kiev and the West criticised Moscow for sending the first cargo without official permission.

"The humanitarian situation is not improving but deteriorating," Lavrov told a news conference. "We want to reach an agreement on all conditions for delivering a second convoy by the same route... in the coming days."

Lavrov also said damage to civilian infrastructure in east Ukraine, where Kiev is fighting a pro-Russian rebellion, cannot all be put down to errors or chance.

Russia is willing to use any form of diplomacy to end the conflict in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov added on the eve of a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents.

"We are ready...for any format as long as there is a result," Lavrov told a news conference. He said the aim was "to help Ukrainians agree among themselves."

He said Russia hoped Tuesday's meeting in Minsk would touch on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, where Ukrainian government forces are fighting pro-Russian separatists, and all sides would agree on the need for further aid to civilians there.