Moscow called on Tuesday for an "immediate end" to the violence in eastern Ukraine, calling on Kiev to halt its military offensive against militia forces.

President Vladimir Putin accused the Kiev government of carrying out "punitive" operations in eastern regions.

In a call with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Putin "underlined the need for an immediate end to the military's punitive operation in southeastern regions and the establishment of peaceful dialogue between Kiev and regional representatives", the Kremlin said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also called for an end to the fighting, accusing Kiev of using the military against civilians.

"The number one task for the Kiev authorities and the test of their durability is bringing an immediate end to the use of the army against the public and an end to any violence by all sides," Lavrov said in Moscow at a news conference with Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.

Lavrov repeated promises that Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine's new president-elect Petro Poroshenko.

-AFP