Legalization of the Russian protectorate in Donbas is unacceptable and contrary to the Minsk agreements, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin has said.

"Russia agrees to a ceasefire only after political concessions on part of Ukraine, and under these concessions it sees the legalization of the Russian protectorate in Donbas, which is totally unacceptable for us and completely contrary to the Minsk agreements," he said during his speech at the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council.

The minister pointed to the fact that the number of victims of the Russian aggression against Ukraine has increased to 10,000 people.

"Hundreds of people remain in illegal detention in the occupied territories and in Crimea. About 1.7 million of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes and become internally displaced people," Klimkin said.

He also noted the important role of the OSCE in conflict resolution and recalled the need for creation of the OSCE armed police mission in Donbas.

"We need a police mission that will be deployed on the conflict areas and on the border – it is a prerequisite for entering the political way in the implementation of the Minsk agreements," the minister said.

Klimkin also stressed the need to maintain sanctions against Russia.

"Sanctions must remain as long as Russia remains on Ukrainian land," he said.