KIEV, Jan. 18 – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin at a meeting of 'Ukraine+Group of Friends of Ukraine in the EU' has stressed the necessity to de-escalate situation in Donbas and to establish the conditions for holding local elections in the certain parts of the country beyond Kiev's control.

"Klimkin informed on the status of implementation of the Minsk Agreements and non-compliance with their commitments by Russia and Russia-backed militants. The minister said about the necessity to gain a progress in de-escalation and setting up of the conditions for carrying local elections in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions so that to guarantee a successful implementation of the whole complex of events foreseen by the Minsk Agreements," the ministry's press service said.