U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said now is a “critical moment” for Russia and pro-Russia separatists to fulfill a peace deal meant to end violence in eastern Ukraine.

Kerry made the comment in Antalya, Turkey, where he met Wednesday with NATO foreign ministers.

Kerry’s comments follow meetings Tuesday with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Russian resort city of Sochi. Kerry in Russia said there is “no substitute” for direct talks with key decision makers on complex global issues such as the conflicts in Ukraine and in Syria.

Kerry’s trip came at a time when relations between Washington and Moscow have plummeted to post-Cold War lows amid the disagreements over Ukraine and Syria, and the trip appeared designed as much to maintain contact as anything else.

Also Tuesday, a report was released based on information compiled by slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov that said at least 220 Russian soldiers have died in fighting in southeastern Ukraine over the past year.

Moscow has repeatedly denied claims it is involved in the conflict.

More than 6,100 people have been killed since April 2014 in the Ukraine crisis.

U.S. officials have urged all parties to the Ukraine conflict to abide by the Minsk agreement, which calls for a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine and a de-escalation of military involvement. The agreement calls for the withdrawal of all heavy weapons and foreign fighters from eastern Ukraine, the release of all prisoners in Russian custody, and allowing Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe election monitors to begin preparations for local elections.
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