Russia said on Wednesday that peace talks with Ukraine were not easy but that there was some hope of reaching a compromise and that neutrality for Ukraine was being seriously discussed.

"The negotiations are not easy for obvious reasons," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said told RBC news. "But nevertheless, there is some hope of reaching a compromise."

"Neutral status is now being seriously discussed along, of course, with security guarantees," Lavrov said.

Lavrov said key issues included the security of people in eastern Ukraine, the demilitarization of Ukraine and the rights of Russian-speaking people in Ukraine.

Lavrov also noted Russia sees no sign that the United States is interested in resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The United States has a decisive role in defining Ukrainian authorities' position, but "today, we see no interest from the United States to speedily resolve this conflict," said Lavrov.