U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for fully observing a ceasefire in Shyrokyne among the steps that the conflicting parties in Ukraine should take urgently.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Sochi on Tuesday, Kerry said Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin agreed that it was important for a true ceasefire to be observed in Shyrokyne.

Kerry said he aired his concerns about the continued fighting in Shyrokyne and at the Donetsk airport. He also claimed that assistance was still being provided to the separatists in terms of management and control.

What is also important is demilitarization, the withdrawal of heavy weapons, and OSCE monitoring, he said.

Genuine dialogue is also needed within the framework of the working groups under the Minsk agreement regarding elections in Donbas, which should be subject to monitoring, Kerry said.

Decentralized status is also very important for the region, he said.