MOSCOW, September 3. /TASS/. Russia has noted with satisfaction the systematic decline in the number of ceasefire violations in Donbas, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

"We have noted with satisfaction a systematic decline in the number of ceasefire violations since August 28 and there absence since September 1," Zakharova said. "We stress the need for preserving the ceasefire further on."

"The next meeting of the Contact Group is due on September 8. It is essential to achieve the signing of an addendum to the Minsk package of measures of February 12 for the pullout of tanks, mortars with calibers under 120 mm and artillery pieces with calibers under 100 mm and an addendum to the verification measures," Zakharova said.

She recalled that a video conference was due to be held on September 4 to make preparations for the Contact Group’s meeting.