Lavrov, Kerry support formation of working subgroups in Contact Group on Ukraine
The top diplomats of Russia and the United States, Sergey Lavrov and John Kerry, have supported the formation of four working subgroups within the Contact Group on Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday following a phone conversation between Lavrov and Kerry, TASS reported.
"The ministers voiced support to the formation of four working subgroups of the Contact Group and the soonest possible start of their practical work with the purpose of strict implementation by the sides of all provisions of the February 12 Minsk agreements, including observing the ceasefire regime and withdrawal of heavy armaments, conducting a constitutional reform in Ukraine, solution of humanitarian and economic problems," the ministry said.
Lavrov particularly stressed the necessity of Kiev’s stable direct dialogue on these issues with Donetsk and Lugansk.
The sides also exchanged opinions on possible steps of the international community to launch a peace process in Syria as well as to contribute to political settlement in Libya and Yemen.
Lavrov and Kerry also discussed bilateral issues, including the schedule of further contacts.