Lavrov stressed the need for an “impartial and objective investigation with the participation of the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] and interested parties in regard to the recent shellings in Donetsk, Mariupol and other settlements in [Ukraine’s] southeast,” the statement read.
The escalation of tensions in Donbas is the result of the attacks on residential areas by the Kiev forces, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
"The escalation of the situation [in Donbas] has resulted from ongoing shelling of populated areas by the Kiev forces, which violates the Minsk agreements," the statement said.
Sergei Lavrov has ensured US Secretary of State John Kerry that Moscow will do all it can to encourage the warring sides in Ukraine to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.
"Lavrov stressed that Russia is ready to do everything in its power to encourage the parties to find a peaceful solution, understanding that actual results may be achieved only through direct dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following a phone conversation between the two top diplomats.
According to the statement, Lavrov and Kerry "called for an immediate cessation of artillery attacks in Donbas and withdrawal of heavy weapons. Russia’s and the United States’ readiness to promote the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis was confirmed."
Moscow has repeatedly called for dialogue between Kiev and the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas, underlining the importance of allowing local residents to be heard in order to find a peaceful conflict resolution.
Russian Foreign Minister urged Washington to convince the Ukrainian leadership to reject a military scenario of the conflict resolution, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“[Minister] Lavrov once again urged the United States to use its influence to persuade the Ukrainian leadership to reject a military scenario,” the statement, issued following a telephone conversation between Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry, read.
Lavrov stated that the recent shellings in Donetsk, Volnovakha and Mariupol could have been avoided if Kiev adopted Russian president’s plan to withdraw heavy weapons, the ministry’s statement said.
“It was emphasized that if the Ukrainian authorities accepted Russian president’s plan from January 15 about urgent withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact, set out in the Minsk memorandum from September 19, the tragedies of Volnovakha, Donetsk and Mariupol could have been avoided,” the statement, issued following a telephone conversation between Sergei Lavrov and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, read.
