Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and U.S. senators Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Durbin and Elizabeth Warren have discussed the situation in Donbas including the local elections.

"The president briefed the U.S. delegation about on the situation in Donbas, particularly about the ceasefire and the abolition of pseudo-elections. However, according to the head of state, there are no positive signals on the provision of full access to the OSCE SMM and liberation of hostages and illegally imprisoned persons, including Nadia Savchenko and Oleh Sentsov. He also condemned new plans of leaders of the so-called DPR and LPR to conduct local fake elections in 2016," the Ukrainian president's press service reported.

According to the president, the date of local elections will be established after the adoption of a respective law by the Verkhovna Rada on the basis of Ukrainian legislation and taking into account OSCE/ODIHR standards.

"New fantasies and blackmail by militants can lead to new sanctions against Moscow," Poroshenko said.

The Ukrainian president urged the U.S. and European partners to make every effort to ensure clear and strict compliance with the Minsk agreements by Russia and militants. "Kremlin should understand that it will pay a higher price for the violation of the Minsk agreements. Transatlantic solidarity and response must be efficient," he emphasized.

For their part, the senators praised recent steps on de-escalation in Donbas and expressed hope that Russia would fully implement the agreements.

The parties also discussed the opportunity of intensifying cooperation on the enhancement of Ukraine's defense capability, stabilization of economic situation in the country and implementation of internal reforms, inter alia, in the framework of the implementation of the strategy of fight against corruption.