Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov, doubts that Thursday's 'Normandy format' ministerial meeting in Paris will help to secure any serious progress in settling the situation in Donbas.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, Turchynov, however, expressed hope that diplomatic and international pressure on Russia would contribute to the process.

"We hope that the Russian Federation will prove clever and responsible enough to stop hostilities against Ukraine, and leave the occupied territories. But one meeting will not change anything," he said, after being asked by reporters whether the March 3 meeting in Paris would influence the situation in Donbas.

"We hope that diplomatic and international pressure on Russia will certainly be able to influence this process [Donbas settlement]," he added.