US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to return Russian representatives to the Joint Control and Coordination Center in Donbass in order to reduce the level of violence in the region. A report on the telephone conversation between the heads of the two agencies is posted on the website of the State Department.

Russia in mid-December stopped working in the SCCC program, as the Center was constantly experiencing great difficulties due to the position of Kiev. According to Dmitry Peskov, President's Press Secretary, Russia is ready to return its observers to the STCCC if the Ukrainian authorities stop provocations against Russian officers and create conditions for them to work in Donbass. The leaders of the "Normandy Four" of France and the Federal Republic of Germany also spoke out for. that representatives of Russia participated in the work of the SCCC, reminded by RIA Novosti.