KYIV. April 1 (Interfax) - Ukraine and partner states have said that Russia is systemically aggravating the security situation in Kyiv-uncontrolled territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.
"Ukraine and its partners state that Russia systemically aggravates the security situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and in Crimea while refusing to reaffirm its commitment to ceasefire. Russia's current escalation is systemic, largest in recent years," the press service for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Kuleba as saying on Thursday.
Russia's actions have brought the situation to a deadlock, Kuleba said, adding that the only way out is diplomacy. "Moscow must cease escalating military tensions, immediately and unconditionally reaffirm its commitment to political-diplomatic means of resolving the conflict and recommit to ceasefire," he said.
The Ukrainian side is making every effort to reach a diplomatic settlement of the situation, he said.
"Ukraine together with Germany and France as Normandy format mediators make everything possible to encourage Russia to engage constructively in negotiations. Our other partners, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and NATO also support Russia's continued engagement in negotiations," he said.
"Whatever disinformation Russia may promote now, I would like to assure that Ukraine prioritizes political-diplomatic means of resolving the conflict, because peace and human lives are fundamental values to the Ukrainian state," Kuleba said.