Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with each of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko.

    The Russian presidency said in a statement Tuesday that the conversation dealt with ways to resolve the situation in the southeastern Ukraine by political means. The importance of adhering to the truce agreement in this region was also emphasized during the call.

    Putin stressed that Ukrainian forces should stop shelling cities and towns in Donbass. He also stressed on the need for direct negotiations between Kiev on one hand and the Popular Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk on the other hand, in order to implement Minsk accords signed on February 12, 2015.

    The statement said that Russia delivered to the Normandy Quartet member states its proposals agreed with the Popular Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk on the local elections and the self-proclaimed government in this region. The call also addressed some aspects of the crisis situation in Syria.

Source: QNA