MOSCOW, September 4 (RIA Novosti) – Moscow will do everything in its power in implementing measures toward a ceasefire in southeastern Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.
“We have, will, and are doing everything in our power to materialize the suggestions on beginning dialogue, starting from the most important task of a ceasefire,” Lavrov said during a joint press conference with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev.
Wednesday’s phone conversation by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko was devoted to measures encouraging ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry added.
“The entire phone conversation between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine yesterday focused on the need to encourage processes aimed at reaching a ceasefire between the Ukrainian military and representatives of the southeast,” Lavrov said.
Following the talks, Vladimir Putin outlined a seven-point plan for the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, the Russia foreign minister reiterated.
“We hope that reaction from both official Kiev and self-defense forces will follow,” stressed Lavrov.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko discussed the first steps in bringing an end to the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine over the telephone. The presidents’ views to exiting the crisis were aligned, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Putin’s plan for Ukraine calls on Kiev to withdraw its troops from the country’s southeastern regions and for the militia to cease its military advances. The plan also includes proposals for an international monitoring force, the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, a ban on the use of combat aircraft over urban areas, an exchange of prisoners in an “all for all” formula and direct access to destroyed infrastructure for repair crews in the war-ravaged areas.
