Putin, Poroshenko agree on ‘permanent ceasefire’ in war-torn eastern Ukraine
Two men agree steps needed for peace but no immediate sign on the ground of a halt to fighting
Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko reached agreement with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday on a “permanent ceasefire” in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region, Poroshenko’s press office said.
There was no immediate sign on the ground of a halt in the fighting between Kiev’s forces and pro-Russian separatists in the mainly Russian-speaking region, which is home to much of Ukraine’s heavy industry.
In a statement, Poroshenko’s press office said: “As a result of the conversation [between the Ukrainian president and Putin] agreement was reached on a permanent ceasefire in the Donbass.
“Mutual understanding was achieved concerning the steps which will enable the establishment of peace,” it added.
Earlier, Putin’s spokesman was quoted in Moscow by Interfax news agency as saying the Russian leader and Poroshenko had largely agreed in their telephone conversation on what needed to be done to resolve Ukraine’s six-month-old crisis.