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Prospects for contacts with Ukraine’s leaders depend on military operation in south-east

MOSCOW, June 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Prospects for contacts between the Russian leadership and Ukraine’s leaders will depend on how long the military operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces continues in the east of the much-troubled country, Alexei Pushkov, Chairman of the State Duma Commitee on Foreign Policy told a news conference Wednesday.

“In my assessment, it would be essential for (Ukrainian President Petro) Poroshenko to issue an order on a ceasefire so as to make a contact with the Russian President possible, because any such contacts are rather problematic amid combat actions,” he said.

“The stance of the Russian government towards Kiev depends on many things and on whether the punitive operation continues,” Pushkov said.