MOSCOW, Sept. 5 – Russia is ready to defend its position in the gas dispute with Ukraine at any international court, according to its top diplomat.

"The presidential press secretary said by his order that we were prepared to defend our position at any international court," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.

"There is always a group of people - lawyers - who are interested in court procedures. Most probably, we will try to do our best to facilitate their life and find a solution in the bilateral format," he said.