Putin, Poroshenko agree on ceasefire steps “to a large extent”

ItarTass: Moscow has repeatedly pointed out that Russia is not a party to Ukraine’s internal conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko have agreed “to a large extent” on steps to be taken by the Ukrainian military and militias to achieve a ceasefire, Russian presidential press-secretary Dmitry Peskov has said.

“In a telephone conversation earlier in the day Putin and Poroshenko exchanged opinions and to a large extent agreed on steps that might contribute to an early ceasefire between the Ukrainian military and the militias in the southeast of the country,” Peskov said in the wake of a statement by the Ukrainian presidential press-service “the conversation resulted in a permanent ceasefire in Donbass.”

Moscow has repeatedly pointed out that Russia is not a party to Ukraine’s internal conflict. This is precisely what President Putin emphasized after last week’s negotiations with Poroshenko in Minsk.

“Frankly speaking, we are not in the position to discuss any ceasefire terms or likely agreements between Kiev, Donetsk and Luhansk. That’s none of our business but Ukraine’s internal affair,” Putin said.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko. 

“[The two leaders] continued to discuss Ukraine’s military and humanitarian crisis,” Peskov said.

“The heads of state exchanged their views on top priority measures for stopping the bloodshed in that country’s south-east,” the press secretary said. “[Putin’s] view on possible ways out of this crisis situation largely coincides with that of the Ukrainian president.”

Overnight to August 27, after consultations involving Customs Union, Ukraine and the EU, a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine took place in Minsk. The conversation behind closed doors lasted for almost two hours and became the first negotiations between the two leaders.