NATO leaders should focus on ensuring a cease-fire in Ukraine, not only on sanctions against Russia, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

"Everyone's first goal should be a ceasefire, it should be an end to war," Cavusoglu told reporters on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference in Pakistan, the Daily Sabah reported. "Everyone should act responsibly and constructively," he said.

"Of course, we need to show unity and solidarity within NATO, we need to show deterrence. But who is paying the price for the ongoing war?"  he added.

He said Turkey continues its efforts as a "mediator" to end the fighting and is in touch with negotiators on both sides.