Putin to Obama: Moscow Expects Kiev to Start Implementing Minsk Deal

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope in a phone call with US President Barack Obama on Monday that the new Ukrainian government will start making concrete steps in the implementation of the Minsk peace accords, the Kremlin said in a statement.

"During the exchange of opinions on the situation in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin expressed hope, in light of recent Ukrainian government reshuffle, that the Kiev authorities will finally begin making concrete steps in the implementation of Minsk accords of February 12, 2015, primarily, in facilitating a direct dialogue with Donbass, launching the amnesty process, constitutional reforms and enforcing the law on special status of Donbass coordinated with Donetsk and Lugansk," the statement said.

Last week, the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, accepted Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's resignation and appointed Parliament speaker Groysman to the position.

Kiev has been conducting a military operation against Donbass independence supporters since spring 2014, when they refused to recognize the new coup-imposed Ukrainian government and declared sovereignty. The Minsk deal on Ukraine's reconciliation was struck in February 2015 by Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France and later signed by Kiev and the Donbass self-proclaimed republics. Both warring parties have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce despite agreeing to the ceasefire deal.