MOSCOW, January 23 /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the sharp aggravation of the Ukraine crisis with Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko by telephone, the Kremlin press service reported adding that the conversation took place at the Belarusian side’s request.

“The leaders exchanged views on the sharp aggravation of the Ukraine crisis. They also discussed Russian-Belarusian integration cooperation, including the schedule of forthcoming contacts at various levels,” the Kremlin press service went on to say.

Earlier on Friday, Putin discussed the Ukraine crisis with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council. The Russian president expressed the hope that Kiev would be committed to the peaceful settlement of the situation in the Donbas region.

Artillery, rocket systems and aviation are being indiscriminately used against densely populated areas in Donbas, Putin said.

“All this is taking place to the accompaniment of propaganda slogans about the need to seek peace and search for responsible parties,” Putin said adding that those who were issuing criminal orders to fire indiscriminately were to blame for the current situation.

“Those who are doing that should know that there is no other way of resolving such conflicts than by political means though peaceful negotiations,” the Russian president said.

Putin hopes that the Kiev authorities will demonstrate common sense.

“We can often hear /from various parties/, including the authorities in Kiev, that their country is committed to exactly this method of solving problems. But in reality everything looks absolutely different,” Putin said.

“I hope that common sense will eventually prevail,” the Russian leader stressed.