KIEV, July 16 – The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has said that illegal armed groups operating in eastern Ukraine do not want to hold talks on a bilateral ceasefire and urges them to return immediately to respective consultations, reads a statement by the trilateral contact group on the settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine, which was published on the OSCE Web site on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, a video conference with the separatists, scheduled for today with the aim of agreeing on modalities for a next round of consultations, and agreed upon at the highest international level, did not materialize. The Contact Group is seriously concerned about the fact that since June 27, no such consultations have taken place. In the opinion of the Contact Group, this indicates a lack of willingness on the side of the separatists to engage in substantive talks on a mutually agreed cease-fire," reads the document.