OREANDA-NEWS. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) supports efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. This was stated by the Secretary General of the organization Helga Schmid on Monday, May 31, following her five-day visit to Ukraine.

In recent months, tensions in the Donbas have escalated, and the number of violations of the ceasefire regime has increased, the OSCE Secretary General said. «This is a reminder of how fragile the situation is», she said.

The OSCE will continue to do everything possible, but a strong political will is required to end the crisis, Helga Schmid said. According to her, the residents of the region «deserve long-term stability and security in their daily lives».

The OSCE Secretary General expressed support for unhindered access of humanitarian organizations to areas not controlled by official Kiev. In addition, Schmid pointed out the restrictions that prevent the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) from carrying out it's tasks. The mission should be able to work in security on both sides of the line of contact, the Secretary General of the organization stressed.