KIEV, Dec. 3 – United States Secretary of State John Kerry has reaffirmed the unwavering position of the U.S. regarding the need to maintain sanctions against Russia until the full implementation of the Minsk agreements for the settlement of the situation in Ukraine's east.

Kerry said this during a telephone conversation with Poroshenko, the Ukrainian president's press service reported on Thursday.

The pair coordinated their positions in the effort to resolve the Donbas conflict, in particular, on the modalities of preparation for elections in the uncontrolled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in accordance with Ukrainian laws, the standards of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and with the monitoring by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the press service said.