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Kerry, Poroshenko talk further steps on Minsk agreements implementation

KIEV, May 13. /TASS/. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko in a phone conversation have discussed further steps on fulfilling the Minsk agreements on resolving the conflict in Donbass, the Ukrainian president’s press service said on Wednesday.

"John Kerry told Pyotr Poroshenko about his negotiations in Russia," the press service said.

The sides coordinated their further actions for the de-escalation in eastern Ukraine and also discussed steps that need to be implemented by the parties for the Minsk agreements implementation.

On Tuesday, Kerry held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Sochi during his first visit to Russia in two years.

At a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart, Kerry was asked to comment on Poroshenko’s recent statement on plans to reclaim the strategically-important Donetsk airport.

Kerry said he was not aware of this statement, but he "would strongly urge [Poroshenko] to think twice" and not to engage in activity that would threaten the Minsk agreements.

The agreement to stop hostilities in the southeast was brokered after the 16-hour marathon talks between the leaders of the Normandy Four countries - Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine.

The February 12 deal also envisages heavy weaponry withdrawal from the contact line, launching a dialogue on restoring social and economic ties between Kiev and Donbass, a constitutional reform in Ukraine aimed at decentralization and ensuring the special status of certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions and other measures.