Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that restrictive measures are the best way to oblige Russia to respect international law, and therefore the task of Ukrainian diplomats is to expand an international coalition on support for Ukraine and strengthening sanctions against Russia.

"There is no better way to restore at least some respect for international law in Russia than sanctions, asset freezes, and a ban on visiting civilized countries for those who are directly responsible for the aggressive policy of this state. We should continue walking this path, gradually expanding an international coalition on support for our state and the strengthening of sanctions," Poroshenko said at an event marking the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian diplomacy in Kyiv on Friday.

He said that the efforts of Ukrainian diplomats should be aimed at uniting the efforts of the democratic world in countering the Russian aggressor, "as well as ensuring that the aggressor has a well-deserved responsibility for its actions."

"Therefore, based on its historical experience, the world must understand that it is useless to expect from Moscow a miraculous degeneration into democracy, and it's simply short-sighted to try to pacify it," Poroshenko said.