MOSCOW, July 19. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he sees serious risks of escalation in southeastern Ukraine.

"Serious risks of escalation persist in southeastern Ukraine," he said at a meeting of the Russian ambassadors and permanent representatives on Thursday.

According to the Russian president, the reasons are the same, namely, the current Ukrainian authorities’ failure to comply with their obligations and refusal to resolve conflicts by peaceful means. "Over and over again, outright disregard for agreements and reluctance to maintain dialogue with their citizens are shown. All scenarios focus on the use of force," Putin noted. "We proceed from the assumption that the Minsk Package of Measures continues to be the real basis for resolving the crisis situation by political means."