There is no alternative to the Minsk process in settling the situation in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian representative to the Contact Group in Minsk, second Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma said.

"There is no other format. All of us have to understand this. The 'Normandy format' has been approved by the UN Security Council; is there anything higher? Whenever other formats are suggested, please, go and make this format," Kuchma told reporters in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"Only one country and one man can untie this knot. These are Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin," he said.

"No matter how many participants we add to the 'Normandy format', this will lead to nothing," Kuchma said.