German Foreign Minister praises Russia's policy to restore peace in Ukraine

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his German counterpart  Frank-Walter Steinmeier discussed the need to extend the truce in Ukraine.

"The Foreign Minister of Germany shared his impressions about the talks with the leadership of Ukraine in Kiev, where he was on a work visit on June 24. Steinmeier praised the statements from the Russian President on the situation in Ukraine, which were made during his official visit to Austria."

"In the course of exchange of views on the development of the situation in Ukraine, the sides discussed the need to extend the truce and ceasefire to start a direct dialogue between the warring parties with the assistance of the OSCE - sources from the ministry said. - In this context, the sides positively evaluated first consultation in Donetsk on June 23 between representatives of the official Ukrainian authorities and the south-east of Ukraine."

The parties stressed out the "importance of continuing such meetings to consider a whole range of issues, including, first off, guarantees of legitimate rights and interests of the residents in the eastern part of Ukraine," ITAR-TASS reports.