Volnovakha bus attack

Photo: RIA Novosti

Ukrainian security forces continue to place weapons and military equipment along the contact line in Donbass, which is prohibited by the Minsk agreements, Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) militia spokesman Andrei Marochko said Saturday.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said yesterday one of its staff was killed after an observer mission patrol vehicle hit a landmine in rebel-held east Ukraine.

It marked the first loss for the security body's Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine since Europe's only war began more than three years ago.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic strongly condemned the recent escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Dacic also extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

Calling the situation in eastern Ukraine "explosive", Germany's foreign minister urged both parties in the conflict to come together quickly for talks to prevent a spiral in violence. 

In a statement of its spokesperson, the European External Action Service (EEAS) noted on Tuesday that the renewed escalation of violence in Ukraine violated the spirit and letter of the Minsk ceasefire.

The EU refers to the latest attacks on several areas controlled by the government near Starohnativka on Monday and Tuesday.

Foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany called June 23 for a "rapid de-escalation" and "immediate ceasefire" in eastern Ukraine following crisis talks in Paris.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic condemned the latest surge in violence in eastern Ukraine, OSCE issued in a statement.

The European Union won't send armed peacekeepers to conflict-torn eastern Ukraine despite reports of ceasefire violations there, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Monday.

"We can only talk about a civilian mission, not military," Tusk told a news conference in Kiev following talks with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko, according to the BBC.

OSCE calls on all sides to respect ceasefire in Ukraine

VIENNA, BELGRADE -- Ivica Dacic has expressed his concerned over an increase in fighting in southeast Ukraine and urged all sides to respect the ceasefire, the OSCE said.

NATO on Wednesday urged Russia to withdraw all forces from eastern Ukraine and to end  its support for the pro-Moscow separatists as a ceasefire appeared to unravel.