Ukraine, Russia to 'work on' extending ceasefire: France
The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine would also talk on the phone later on Monday.
PARIS:
The Russian and Ukrainian presidents agreed Monday to work on extending a ceasefire between Kiev and pro-Kremlin militias, just hours before the current truce expires, France said.
In a four-way teleconference call that also included the French and German leaders, Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko agreed to work on "the adoption of an agreement on a bilateral ceasefire between Ukrainian authorities and separatists," the French presidency said.
The deadline for the current shaky ceasefire in violence-hit eastern Ukraine runs out at 1900 GMT on Monday, with no end to weeks of fighting in sight.
France and Germany have already reiterated a warning from the European Union that it could slap more sanctions on Moscow if Putin does not explicitly pressure pro-Kremlin rebels to stop fighting.
In its statement, the French presidency said the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine would also talk on the phone later on Monday.
The Russian and Ukrainian presidents agreed Monday to work on extending a ceasefire between Kiev and pro-Kremlin militias, just hours before the current truce expires, France said.
In a four-way teleconference call that also included the French and German leaders, Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko agreed to work on "the adoption of an agreement on a bilateral ceasefire between Ukrainian authorities and separatists," the French presidency said.
The deadline for the current shaky ceasefire in violence-hit eastern Ukraine runs out at 1900 GMT on Monday, with no end to weeks of fighting in sight.
France and Germany have already reiterated a warning from the European Union that it could slap more sanctions on Moscow if Putin does not explicitly pressure pro-Kremlin rebels to stop fighting.
In its statement, the French presidency said the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine would also talk on the phone later on Monday.