Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed issues related to sustainable cease-fire in Ukraine's southeast with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.
According to the press service of the Kremlin, the parties "continued the discussion of the crisis in Ukraine." "In the context of international efforts to peacefully settle the domestic conflict in Ukraine, the parties emphasized the need to ensure sustainable ceasefire in the Donbas," the message said.
The officials also stressed out the importance of the meeting of the contact group to implement the Minsk agreements and establish Kiev's dialogue with the south-east of the country. One of the priorities goals is to withdraw military hardware from the contact line and exchange prisoners.
According to TASS, Putin, Merkel, Hollande and Poroshenko also addressed issues of economic recovery of the affected regions, as well as the provision of humanitarian and social support to the population.
On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with France 24 said that President Poroshenko was the best chance that Ukraine now has.