Bosnia banned arms and ammunition exports to Ukraine on Wednesday, following pressure from Bosnian Serbs, stressing that the conflict should be resolved by peaceful means.

Bosnia banned arms and ammunition exports to Ukraine on Wednesday, following pressure from Bosnian Serbs, stressing that the conflict should be resolved by peaceful means.

Bosnian arms producer Unis Group recently secured a 5 million euro ($5.66 million) deal to supply Ukraine with arms and ammunition. But Bosnian Serbs, who nurture close ties with fellow Orthodox Christian Russia, objected to the sale.

Russia also called on Bosnia not to supply Ukraine with weapons. The Serbs argued that allowing arms exports would harm their relations with Moscow.

The presidency, in a statement, said arms sales to Ukraine were not in the interests of Bosnian foreign policy.

"They (arms exports) do not contribute to regional security, stability and ongoing international diplomatic efforts to broker a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine," the presidency, which represents all three ethnic groups, said.

"The crisis in Ukraine can be resolved only through a peaceful, democratic means, political dialogue and negotiations, with full respect of the international law."

Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France met in Minsk on Wednesday to try to agree a ceasefire to end the pro-Russian separatist conflict in which more than 5,000 have been killed since last April.