U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told a group of European foreign ministers that Russia and Ukraine both must work to end tensions and restore the cease-fire in Ukraine.

Kerry spoke Thursday at the annual ministerial council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a two-day session held in Belgrade, Serbia.

In his remarks Kerry said Russia should help with the removal of Russian forces in eastern Ukraine and allow unfettered access to OSCE monitors in the war-torn region of Donbas. He said Ukraine needs to do its part to restore the cease-fire and begin rebuilding Ukraine’s eastern regions.

Kerry said the OSCE has made much progress in its 40 years of existence, but more remains to be done. He said OSCE members must do more to increase information-sharing among their armed forces, and increase efforts to protect human rights and eliminate bigotry.

He said in too many countries, nongovernmental organizations and the media are facing restrictions, and he added that there is “no excuse” for abusing the rights of citizens, preventing journalists from doing their jobs, or silencing political dissent.

Later Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is also expected to meet with his Turkish counterpart, in the first meeting between the two top diplomats since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane in Turkish airspace last week.

On Wednesday, Kerry visited the residence of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade. In remarks to the media, Kerry praised Serbia’s progress on the path toward integration in the European Union, including making Serbia’s economy more open to foreign investment.

Kerry also praised Serbia’s progress in dialogue with neighboring Kosovo, where tensions remain over territorial claims.
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