The trilateral contact group for the resolution of the situation in the east of Ukraine has completed the emergency video conference with the participation of representatives of self-proclaimed "republics", the press secretary of Leonid Kuchma, who represents Ukraine at the negotiations, Darka Olifer, reported on Facebook on 1 September.
"During the Skype conference the head of the OSCE observation mission, the coordinator of the OSCE in the sub-working group on security Ertugrul Apakan, as well as members of STSKK (Joint Center for Control and Coordination) reported on the situation in Donbass. The reports indicate that since midnight August 31, 2016 to 15:00 September 1, 2016, Kyiv time, the ceasefire was largely observed along entire contact line," stressed Olifer.
The contact group agreed on the need to continue the regime of silence and called upon the parties to comply with this mode in the future. The parties also agreed on the need to continue efforts to make the ceasefire sustainable.
In the meantime, according to Olifer, the release of the hostages remains the most sensitive issue.
"Despite the difficulties, we do everything possible for the people to return home," she assured.
On 8-9 September, the special representative of OSCE in Ukraine Martin Saydik will pay working visit to Moscow, where he is slated to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Saydik is also scheduled to meet with the Russian representative in the Contact Group for Donbas, Boris Gryzlov.