There are still hopes for progress in resolving the conflict in the Donbass under the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told TASS.

"Unfortunately, the conflict in eastern Ukraine continues," the Russian minister said. "The line of contact is still being fired."

"At the same time, there are still hopes for achieving progress in the settlement remain," said Lavrov.  "In five months, he managed to do what his predecessor stubbornly refused to do for years."

Lavrov noted that achieving progress in the settlement is possible only through direct dialogue between the parties to the conflict - Kyiv, Donetsk and Lugansk.

"We are ready to contribute to this in every way. The establishment of a lasting peace in Ukraine meets our interests and will have a positive impact on relations between the two countries," FM summed up.