Accessibility links

Breaking News

Russia Says Western Leaders Note Progress In Cease-Fire In Ukraine

The Kremlin says that Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko have noted "certain progress" in a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine during a telephone conversation.

The leaders of four countries also noted progress in the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the region, the Kremlin said in a statement.

However, the Kremlin statement did not mention a claim by Kyiv that Putin is open to sending a peacekeeping force to eastern Ukraine following the phone conversation on April 30.

The Ukrainian presidency statement said, "In the context of the discussion of ways towards a peaceful resolution [of the conflict], President Putin has accepted the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping contingent to the Donbas region."

The French presidency also made no mention of peacekeepers, saying in a statement that the parties had reviewed the implementation of the peace accords and "considered areas for improvement."

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
This item is part of
XS
SM
MD
LG