Foreign Minister of Austria Sebastian Kurz intends to visit districts near Mariupol to study the situation in the east of Ukraine, Germany's DW publication has reported.

"Kurz wants to understand the situation in the conflict zone in the east of Ukraine," reads the report.

In the context of its OSCE Chairmanship in 2017 Austria will focus on contributing towards defusing existing conflicts, joining forces in fighting radicalization and violent extremism and re-establishing trust and confidence.