Foreign Ministry concerned over escalation of situation in southeastern Ukraine

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on the situation in southeastern Ukraine, expressing "grave concern over the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, especially with the instances of shelling that have led to the deaths of civilians."
    "We are firmly convinced that there is no alternative to peace negotiations as a way to resolve the crisis in southeastern Ukraine," the statement published on the website of the Ministry said Monday.
    "We strongly urge all parties to move towards resolving the conflict by peaceful means based on an observance by all participants of their obligations, including those under the Minsk agreements. Kazakhstan in turn, is ready to provide a platform for negotiations to resolve the Ukrainian crisis in any format convenient for both sides and at any acceptable time," the ministry said.
    The violence in eastern Ukraine escalated recently with the ceasefire deal penned in Minsk last year finally shattering. Ukraine last week attempted to launch a massive offensive operation against militia positions, but it ended in failure. Their opponents have since pressed forward and gained ground, advancing in the direction of the port city of Mariupol in the south of the Donetsk region.
    At least 30 people, including two children, have been killed in shelling in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Another 102 people were injured, at least 75 of whom needed hospital treatment, and many suffered shrapnel injuries, Mariupol City Council said. Pro-Russian separatists are blamed for the attack, according to Akipress.