Ukraine Phone Talks between Leaders Last over Two Hours
French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke for "over two hours" with their Russian and Ukrainian counterparts Sunday, the Elysee said, with the latest ceasefire deadline in Ukraine looming.
During the telephone exchange with Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's leader Petro Poroshenko, the leaders discussed "the importance of making new concrete advances in the security situation on the ground, prolonging the ceasefire and putting in place the peace plan" presented by Ukraine, the French president said in a statement.
Putin joined Merkel and Hollande in calling on Ukraine to extend its temporary ceasefire with pro-Kremlin militias beyond Monday, the Kremlin said.
The three leaders urged an extension of the truce "for a longer period," the Kremlin said in a statement issued after the four-way teleconference.
Poroshenko said Merkel and Hollande will join him in a further phone conference with Putin on Monday.
He said the new round of telephone diplomacy was agreed during Sunday's talks.
Source: Agence France Presse
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