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#INSERT type:image caption:Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko approved the initial decision to add the three clubs from Crimea to the Russian league. END# MOSCOW -- The Russian Football Union says it will attend UEFA and FIFA-mediated talks next month to resolve a dispute with Ukraine over the clubs in Crimea. Three clubs from Crimea, a region in Ukraine annexed by Russia in March, debuted in Russian league and cup competitions this month, but UEFA has refused to recognize any matches they play. RFU president Nikolai Tolstykh told Russian media that talks with the Football Federation of Ukraine on the issue would be held Sept. 18 at UEFA headquarters. However, FFU spokesman Pavel Ternovoi told The Associated Press that Ukrainian representatives "are not interested"in talks with Russia if it continues to claim jurisdiction over Crimean clubs. Instead, he says discussing possible sanctions against Russia with UEFA and FIFA representatives remains a priority.
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