Moscow said on Monday that rebel leaders have enough support to establish dialogue with Ukrainian authorities and called on Kiev to halt its military offensive.
Deputy foreign minister Grigory Karasin, speaking to the state news agency TASS, said elected rebel leaders "have enough authority to establish broad sustainable dialogue with Kiev authorities."
"This work can bring results only on condition of equal dialogue based on mutual respect, with Kiev renouncing military operations and the notorious 'anti-terror operation'," Karasin was quoted as saying.