Russia's top diplomat dismissed criticism of his country's incursion into Ukraine on Tuesday, saying the United States and European Union had not lived up to their own commitments to the region.
"Nobody has a right to be angry with Russia. The European Union and the United States did not fulfill their obligations in Ukraine," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a trip to Tunisia.
"We hope our partners will understand our position," he said, adding that Russia's moves in Ukraine's Crimea region had been right.
Russia seized the strategic Crimea region over the weekend, in the wake of the ouster of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych.
"We must have a dialogue and not exclude anyone," Lavrov said. "Our position is clear on this and won't change."
Lavrov also said that Russia hoped the West will not impose sanctions against Moscow over its actions in Ukraine.
Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin also defended his country's actions, and accused the U.S. of interfering in world affairs as if were conducting experiments on lab rats.
- NBC News' F. Brinley Bruton and Reuters contributed to this report.