Ukraine's Poroshenko Talks With Putin, EU Leaders About Conflict, Cease-Fire Extension
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and German and French leaders Monday to discuss ways to end the ongoing conflict in east Ukraine.
Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, told Businessweek the four leaders agreed that negotiations should be restarted "as soon as possible between the contact group consisting of representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE and representatives of the separatists."
"The primary aim should be agreement on a bilateral cease-fire," he continued.
At the meeting, Putin said he would allow Ukrainian border guards into Russia to hold joint patrols where pro-Russia separatists have seized three frontier posts, according to Businessweek. Putin also agreed to allow observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to extend their mission on the Russian side of the border to ensure that the truce has been maintained, in addition to promising to secure the border.
Putin also pushed for an extension to the cease-fire, which was set to expire at 10 p.m. Monday.
Both Ukrainian and Western officials have blamed Moscow for not stopping weapons or fighters from crossing the border into Ukraine. Moscow denies helping the militants.
The hourlong discussion was the second conference call in two days in an attempt to resolve the Ukraine conflict, which has thrown Ukraine's eastern provinces into chaos and created tense relations among Russia, the U.S. and the E.U.
A cease-fire to end more than two months of fighting was announced June 20, but 108 violations of the cease-fire have been reported.
One Ukrainian soldier was killed during fighting Monday, and eight were wounded. In all, 27 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 69 wounded since the cease-fire began.
The E.U. told Putin last week that Russia could face more economic sanctions if it does not try to quell the rebels in the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Poroshenko and Putin also agreed to continue to release prisoners and hostages taken by both Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels.
The proposals are intended to allay Ukraine's concerns that fighters and equipment are being brought over the Russia-Ukraine border and to help extend the cease-fire.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a statement that Putin's proposals "will allow everyone on whom it depends to support and guarantee the extension of the truce."
Poroshenko did not say whether or not the cease-fire will be prolonged. A meeting of Poroshenko's security chiefs was called Monday to decide whether or not to extend the cease-fire, according to Reuters.
A number of the chiefs advised Poroshenko not to extend the cease-fire beyond the deadline due to Ukrainian military losses in the past week.
Poroshenko already extended the weeklong cease-fire 72 hours on Friday after urging from Russia and the West.
French President Francois Hollande's office said Ukraine and Russia's foreign ministers will be in touch later to further discuss and implement the proposals.