The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's representative in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas, Iryna Gerashchenko, has sent a letter to German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier, presiding in the OSCE, with the request to assist in the liberation of Ukrainian hostages.

"I've sent a letter to German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, presiding in the OSCE, from the Ukrainian side of the human subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group, in which we expressed our deep concern about the situation with the hostages. We appeal to the OSCE with the request to assist in the liberation of the hostages," she wrote on her Facebook page.

She noted in the last month not only political but also humanitarian situation in Donbas deteriorated significantly - militants have blocked the release of hostages and "despite all the efforts of the Ukrainian side and willingness to compromise, they reject any initiative."