Russia hopes that Kiev will start a dialogue with the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said this following consultations with the U.S. side on so-called security guarantees, Delovaya Stolitsa reported.

"I hope that the situation in Ukraine will change in two aspects: first, the government in Kiev will start a meaningful dialogue with the population of Donetsk and Luhansk", he said.

Ryabkov also demanded that Ukraine comply with the Minsk agreements, but did not specify whether Russia would implement them.

"I expect the Kiev authorities to observe and maintain the cease-fire agreement concluded a few days before the New Year," the Russian said.