Russia sees situation in Donbass improving

　　MOSCOW, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The situation in southeastern Ukraine has been improving despite Kiev's attempts to derail the cease-fire agreement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

　　"The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) detects considerable lull in fighting. The cease-fire bears fruits," Lavrov told a news conference, criticizing those who attempted to make an impression that the cease-fire deal did not work.

　　The OSCE vowed to get involved into the verification of heavy weapons withdrawal in Donbass, he said.

　　The United States and the European Union have presented "ridiculous" demands in support of authorities in Kiev which said the Ukrainian troops would withdraw their heavy weapons only when the lull in fighting persists for two days, Lavrov said.

　　The U.S. military leaders said on Wednesday that the White House was still mulling whether to arm Kiev with lethal weapons.

　　"Everyone understands there are no ideal truces and ideal cease-fire regimes," the Interfax news agency quoted Lavrov as saying.

　　He noted that attempts to blame Russia and Donbass insurgents for lack of complete calm at the division line in eastern Ukraine were aimed at preventing political solution to the crisis, adding that Donbass militia has already started withdrawal of their artillery.

　　Lavrov said that Moscow has no desire to please the West but wants to secure peace and political settlement in Ukraine.