US Secretary of State John Kerry has been talking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the phone, with both discussing the need to fully implement the Minsk agreements in regards to the crisis in Ukraine.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has been talking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the phone, with both discussing the need to fully implement the Minsk agreements in regards to the crisis in Ukraine.

Kerry "urged Russia to seize the opportunity of upcoming meetings of the Trilateral Contact Group and its Working Groups to accelerate progress on implementing the Minsk agreements," signed in February, said John Kirby, a State Department spokesman.

The accords state that Kiev should engage in talks with the rebel leadership in Lugansk and Donetsk. They also stated that it was key to stop targeting civilian areas.

In addition to Ukraine, the top diplomats "also discussed Syria, Iran, Yemen, and the Arctic Council," Kirby added.