Situation worsening in eastern Ukraine: Russia

Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the gravity of the situation in eastern Ukraine is escalating, as armed aggressions between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian militias have intensified in the recent days.

The situation is worrying as there seems to be no line separating the forces, Lavrov said at a press conference on Monday, following talks with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif.

"We`re greatly alarmed by the recent developments (in Ukraine) that resemble preparations for new military actions," the Russian minister said.

Lavrov argued for direct dialogue between Kiev and representatives from the two self-proclaimed People`s Republics, Donetsk and Luhansk, calling diplomacy the essential way to implement the Minsk agreement and achieve peaceful settlement to the conflict.