ASTANA, March 20. /TASS/. Moscow hopes Kiev will strictly adhere to the Minsk Accords, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after a meeting with the leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan in Astana.

"We do expect that the authorities in Kiev will fully comply with the Minsk Accords," Putin said.

The Russian leader confirmed that the situation in Ukraine was among the themes discussed. He noted the active involvement of Alexander Lukashenko and Nursultan Nazarbayev in efforts to promote a settlement of that problem.

"The Minsk Accords of February 12 paved the way for gradual de-escalation of the armed conflict," Putin said.