Mike Pence: US Concerned About Escalation of Violence in Eastern Ukraine

US Vice President Mike Pence stated that Washington is concerned about the recent escalation in Donbass and expressed confidence that Moscow and Washington would continue to maintain contacts on the issue of the Ukrainian crisis.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is concerned about the recent escalation of hostilities in the crisis-torn Ukraine's eastern regions, US Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday.

"We’re watching and very troubled by the increased hostilities," Pence said in an interview with the ABC broadcaster, speaking about the recent escalation in Donbass.

Pence expressed confidence that Moscow and Washington would continue to maintain contacts on the issue of the Ukrainian crisis.

"Those conversations are going to be ongoing," Pence told the broadcaster.

In April 2014, Kiev authorities launched a military operation against pro-independence militia in the eastern Ukrainian Donbass region. In February 2015, the two sides reached a ceasefire deal after talks brokered by the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine — the so-called Normandy Format — in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

The situation in the Donetsk region has escalated over the past few days, in particular near the town of Avdiivka, with clashes happening between Kiev forces and local militias. The conflicting parties have both accused each other of initiating the violence and have both suffered casualties.