UK Prime Minister David Cameron and President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy have agreed that the outcome of the Geneva meeting represented a positive step forward, but that it was essential that the agreements reached were rapidly implemented.

The pair spoke after the United States, EU, Ukraine and Russia came to a tentative agreement in Geneva, which could put on hold economic sanctions the West had prepared to impose on Russia if the talks were fruitless.

"The European Union should continue preparations for potential extra sanctions against Russia although it will also do all it can to help bring in yesterday's deal," a Downing Street spokesman said of Cameron's conversation with Rompuy.

Moreover, they agreed that the European Union should do all it could to help implement these agreements, Downing Street spokesman said of Mr. Cameron's conversation with Mr. Van Rompuy.