WASHINGTON, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - The US Department of State wants to see a negotiated agreement reached from the leaders attending the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Milan that would bring an end to the fighting in Eastern Ukraine, US Department of State spokeswoman said.
"We have continued to emphasize the need for full implementation of the all of the 12 points of the September 5 Minsk agreement," Marie Harf said during a briefing on Friday, adding that "the shooting around the Donetsk Airport has to stop, the hostages have to be released."
Harf has also called for sovereignty to be restored along the Russian-Ukrainian border. "Foreign forces and weapons need to be withdrawn," she added.
Harf noted that she had seen reports that progress was being made on the issue of Russia agreeing to supply gas to Ukraine before the start of winter, but that she did not yet have official details.
More than 50 countries gathered at the two -day Milan summit to discuss global security issues, development and the crisis in Ukraine.
Early Friday, before the highly anticipated talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, they expressed little optimism for an agreed peace process in eastern Ukraine.
As of now, Russia and Ukraine have reached a temporary gas deal for winter, but Russia says that it will not supply Ukraine with gas until the country provides a prepayment.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak announced on Friday that Ukraine has agreed to pay $385 per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas during the winter months.
Although the details have yet to be worked out completely, the next round of talks is expected to take place on October 21 in Brussels between Russia, the Ukraine and the European Union.
