AKIPRESS.COM - Russia's foreign minister says planned Ukraine peace talks are focusing on ensuring a stable cease-fire.

Sergey Lavrov said Friday that a truce in eastern Ukraine should be monitored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, reports AP. 

He said the agenda for the peace talks tentatively set for Friday in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, also includes economic assistance to the rebel regions and their relations with the Ukrainian government.

The success of the Minsk talks involving representatives of Ukraine, Russia, pro-Russia rebels and the OSCE could pave the way for a meeting of leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France to discuss the Ukrainian crisis.

More than 4,700 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since April, and fighting has continued despite September's cease-fire deal.