The main responsibility for resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine should be carried by regional organizations, in particular the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

"It is not that the United Nations is involved in all the issues, there is some perception that if something goes wrong, the United Nations must be involved. But… there are so many regional organizations… When it comes to resolution of political conflict issues, we normally give the priority to regional organizations. Of course, we very closely coordinate and provide the support," Ban said in an interview with the Russian media. According to Ban, in case of Ukraine, the OSCE has been tasked to handle the matter, while the United Nations has been taking part in monitoring the situation, providing humanitarian delivery and dealing with human rights issues. "So, it is the OSCE [that] is taking the primary responsibility. It is not that the UN does not want to involve, it… is the decision of the regional organization, which we respect," the UN chief said.

His statements come as on Wednesday, the Contact Group on Ukraine, comprising representatives from Kiev, Donbass, Russia, and the OSCE, will hold a meeting in the Belarusian capital, Minsk to discuss the security issues and the special status of Ukraine's eastern region of Donbass.

Kiev launched a military operation in Donbass in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities.