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Russian deputy FM, US Nuland highlight OSCE key role in talks on Ukraine crisis

The diplomats discussed political issues linked to carrying out a real constitutional reform in Ukraine, strengthening security as well as economic and humanitarian problems in the Donbas region
US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH
US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland
© EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

MOSCOW, July 20. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland discussed constitutional reform in Ukraine and security, economic and humanitarian problems in the country’s east, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday reporting a telephone conversation between the diplomats.

Karasin and Nuland "exchanged views on the situation with the implementation of the Minsk agreements reached on February 12, 2015," the ministry said. "Particular attention has been paid to political issues linked to carrying out a real constitutional reform in Ukraine, strengthening security as well as economic and humanitarian problems in the Donbas region."

The ministry said the diplomats also considered issues related to a new meeting involving representatives of the Contact Group on the Ukraine crisis, scheduled to take place in the Belarusian capital Minsk on Tuesday.

"The Russian side has emphasized the importance of establishing direct dialogue between representatives of Kiev, Donetsk and Luhansk," it said, adding that the sides also highlighted the key role played by European security watchdog OSCE in resolving the internal Ukrainian conflict.

On Tuesday, July 21, envoys of Moscow, Kiev, the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will gather in Minsk to continue Contact Group meetings reviewing progress of the ceasefire. Discussions are expected to include four working groups that were set up to deal with political, security, economic and humanitarian issues.