"In Ukraine the United States and the European Union tried to stage -- let's call things what they are -- another 'color revolution', an operation to unconstitutionally change regime," the Interfax news agency quoted Lavrov as saying.

In an unusually blunt speech at a top university in Moscow, Lavrov said the West was trying to use the Ukraine crisis to weaken Russia.

"Few doubt that we are talking not only about Ukraine's fate," Russia's top diplomat was quoted as saying. "They are trying to use Ukraine as a pawn in a geopolitical game."

"Our Western partners, first and foremost the United States, tried to behave as winners in the Cold War and pretend that one can ignore Russia in European affairs and undertake activities that directly damage Russian security interests."

Lavrov accused the West of being biased against Russia, saying Washington and Brussels had sought to tar Moscow’s reputation even before the Ukrainian crisis broke out.

"It is enough to recall the hysterical anti-Russian propaganda which seized the United States and Europe long before the Ukrainian events, their desire to besmirch the Olympic Games in Sochi through every means possible," he said.

The West had repeatedly ignored Moscow's proposals to beef up cooperation in Europe. "As a result, unique opportunities to genuinely overcome a split in Europe have been missed."

NTJ/NJF