DONETSK, December 17. /TASS/. The leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic insist on an early meeting of the Contact Group for a settlement in the east of Ukraine, the Donetsk Republic’s chief negotiator, Denis Pushilin, has told TASS.

“We keep insisting on an early meeting with Kiev officials. We will be prepared to hold an on-line Skype-conference as soon as tomorrow to discuss an agenda and be more prepared for a meeting in Minsk,” Pushilin, the speaker of the Donetsk Republic’s legislature, said.

“It is very good that the understanding of the need for such a meeting has achieved such a level making it possible to steer clear of a dead end and not upset the peace processes that were launched on December 9,” Pushilin said about last night’s telephone discussion among Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

“We’ve got to consolidate these peace steps and look into the next issues, which are still suspended, such as the economic blockade and the status of Donbas,” Pushilin said.