MINSK, August 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday that he does not expect a breakthrough in the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis at the talks in Minsk, though he believes it is important to decide on further steps towards a solution.

"Most likely, we shouldn’t expect a major breakthrough. But we need a conceptual decision, or order to start moving towards peace," Lukashenko said at a meeting in Minsk with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

The president expressed confidence that "the EU does not object to further dialogue until complete settlement of the situation."

"We're ready to set up a platform for this negotiating process," Lukashenko said. "Cost what it may but this conflict should be extinguished by any means."

"Everybody has such a wish: this has to be ended; nobody needs this fratricidal war," the Belarusian president said.

Ashton said that the EU had a clear position on the Ukrainian issue. The EU supports the Ukrainian people's choice ,and believes that Ukraine should have good relations both with its neighbors and the EU.

The EU is concerned about the situation in eastern Ukraine, she said adding that the Tuesday meeting might help resolve the challenges set by this situation.