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Putin, Burkhalter discuss situation in Ukraine after Donetsk, Lugansk polls

Putin and Burkhalter noted the importance of efforts to settle the crisis in Ukraine

MOSCOW, May 12 /ITAR-TASS/. President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Swiss President and Chairperson-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Didier Burkhalter on Monday, May 12, to discuss the situation in Ukraine after the independence referenda held in the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk and Lugansk regions on May 11.

Putin and Burkhalter noted the importance of efforts to settle the crisis in Ukraine, the presidential press service said.

“As a follow-up to the May 7 meeting in Moscow, they continued to discuss the situation in Ukraine in light of the referenda in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Both sides noted the importance of invigorated OSCE efforts to resolve the crisis, including by fostering direct dialogue between the authorities in Kiev and representatives of the south-eastern regions of Ukraine,” the statement said.

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