The leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) has rejected the idea that former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych could become a mediator in efforts aimed at securing a peaceful settlement for Donbas.

"As of today, we see no opportunity to involve Viktor Yanukovych in the peace process. It is unclear how he can help us. No one is expecting him in Donbas today," Denys Pushylin, DPR chief negotiator at the Contact Group's meetings in Minsk, told Interfax on Tuesday.

Several political analysts suggested earlier that Yanukovych could play a key role in the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

On Monday, Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that an Interpol commission decided to declare Yanukovych, his son Oleksandr, Ukraine's ex prime minister Mykola Azarov and other former high-ranking officials as international fugitives.

Russia will be ready to consider a request, should it receive one, for the extradition of Yanukovych and number of his associates who were declared international fugitives by the Ukrainian government, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax on Monday.

"In the event of receiving it [a request] through official channels, Russia will consider such a request in accordance with international and national laws. However, extradition will most likely be denied," the source said.

The Russian authorities see "a clear political undertone" behind the "criminal persecution" of the former Ukrainian leaders.

"And in accordance with international and Russian laws, persons persecuted for political motives cannot be extradited to other countries for criminal prosecution," the source said.