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Putin expresses concern with situation in Donbas — spokesman

The Russian president is calling on all sides of the conflict to immediately end the military hostilities and any manifestations of violence, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says

MOSCOW, February 2. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his concern with the situation in Ukraine’s Donbas region and has urged the parties in conflict to end the military hostilities, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday commenting the situation that followed the disruption of the Minsk talks at TASS request.

"The president is very concerned with how the situation is unfolding in Donbas against the background of incessant fighting and is calling on all sides of the conflict to immediately end the military hostilities and any manifestations of violence," Peskov said.

Another Kremlin administration representative told TASS on condition of anonymity that he could not but agree with the militias’ tough stance at the Minsk talks as well as with the statements they made on Monday.

"It’s hard to disagree with their logic against the background of the current situation and large-scale military hostilities. Their tough stance can be understood," the source said adding that Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov who was taking part in the talks had exerted a great deal of effort to persuade the militia representatives to continue the talks.

"At the same time, any potential of influence certainly has its limits under the current circumstances," the Kremlin source said.

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