Russian FM pledges cooperation with West to combat terror despite rising tensions over Ukraine

CAPTION CORRECTION, CORRECTS YEAR IN CAPTION - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks at an annual news conference on Russia's foreign policy issues at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. Russia's foreign minister says talks with his counterparts from Ukraine, France and Germany will focus on pulling back heavy weapons from a redrawn frontline in east Ukraine. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (The Associated Press)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks at an annual news conference on Russia's foreign policy issues at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. Russia's foreign minister says Moscow is continuing to cooperate with the West on fighting terrorism despite tensions over Ukraine. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (The Associated Press)

Russia's foreign minister says Moscow is continuing to cooperate with the West on fighting terrorism despite tensions over Ukraine.

Sergey Lavrov said in a press conference Wednesday that Russian security agencies have maintained contacts with counterparts in France, where five Russian citizens from the predominantly Muslim region of Chechnya were arrested in raids Tuesday.

Lavrov would not say whether Russia had shared intelligence information that led to the arrests. He emphasized that Russia was also cooperating with other countries in the fight against terrorism, organized crime and other threats, but did not elaborate.

Despite tensions with the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly offered his condolences when 12 people were slain at French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo this month, and said Moscow was ready to help France combat terrorism.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/russian-fm-pledges-cooperation-with-west-to-combat-terror-despite-rising-tensions-over-ukraine