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Leaders of France and Ukraine discuss need of dialogue with self-proclaimed republics

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also said it was necessary to release all prisoners, including Nadezhda Savchenko, noting the lack of progress in this issue
Francois Hollande and Petro Poroshenko (archive) EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH / POOL
Francois Hollande and Petro Poroshenko (archive)
© EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH / POOL

PARIS, March 10. /TASS/. The presidents of France and Ukraine, Francois Hollande and Petro Poroshenko, have discussed in a telephone conversation on Tuesday implementation of the Minsk agreements in eastern Ukraine. The two leaders pointed to the importance of dialogue with representatives of the Luhansk and Donetsk self-proclaimed republics, the Elysee Palace press service said.

"The two presidents noted the importance of maintaining a positive discussion with 'separatists'," the press service said.

The conversation initiated by the Ukrainian president focused mainly on the situation in east Ukraine and on the implementation of the Minsk agreements, above all, on preserving the ceasefire, pulling back heavy weapons and deploying OSCE monitoring missions. Aside from the situation in Donbas, the two heads of state discussed "the possibility of strengthening bilateral ties", the Elysee Palace added.

According to the Ukrainian presidential press service, "the interlocutors have agreed on the need to strengthen the OSCE special monitoring mission, calling for more active involvement of the peacekeeping missions for resolving the situation in Donbas".

Poroshenko "drew attention to the need for a complete ceasefire and heavy weapons withdrawal monitored and verified by OSCE". He also said it was necessary to release all prisoners, including Nadezhda Savchenko, noting the lack of progress in this issue".

The two leaders also discussed the agenda of the forthcoming Eastern Partnership summit due in the Latvian capital Riga in May and the need to cancel the visa regime for Ukrainians, the presidential press service said.