Russia to work with OSCE over Ukraine crisis

Moscow is ready to take practical steps toward the de-escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in line with the plan proposed by President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

"We will be ready together with the OSCE in the contact group to help the warring parties practically make progress on the way to stabilise the situation," he said.

"We hope these calls will be heard especially by Kiev, Donetsk and Lugansk," Xinhua quoted Lavrov as saying at a meeting with Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva.

"Yesterday's proposals, which President Putin voiced after his telephone conversation with Poroshenko, are on the negotiation table," reported Itar-Tass news agency citing Lavrov.

"We hope the conflicting sides in Ukraine will make use of these ideas and try to come to an agreement at the upcoming session of the Contact Group," he said, adding the OSCE with its special mission in Ukraine is expected to play a key role in organising international monitoring of the ceasefire.

Putin proposed a seven-point plan Wednesday to stop military clashes in southeast Ukraine. Earlier in the day, he talked to Poroshenko on "concrete steps to promote a ceasefire between the militia and the Ukrainian forces."

Lavrov called the recent claims of Ukraine joining NATO as "obvious attempt to derail all efforts" of the peace process.

The minister also said it seemed that none of the countries that signed documents with Russia, like the Geneva statement of April 17, is interested in implementing those agreements, accusing the insincerity of Brussels and Washington.