Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during a telephone conversation with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said Ukraine had proposed a venue for the next meeting of the Ukraine-Russia-OSCE contact group to settle the situation in the eastern part of the country.

"The head of the state assured that, as a part of the Berlin agreements between the foreign ministers of four countries, Ukraine is prepared for the further work of three-party contact group, in particular, to conduct another meeting on July 5. Ukraine has proposed venue for the meeting and is waiting for confirmation from the other side," the president's press service reported on Friday.

Poroshenko also said that after the ceasefire ended, Ukraine sustained fewer losses than when it was in force, as the militants failed to observe the ceasefire. According to him, in this situation, he, based on the National Security and Defense Council's decision, had to restore counter-terror operation.

Ashton, in turn, promised that Ukraine could rely on EU support.

On behalf of 28 countries, I want to assure that you have our support, Poroshenko's press service quotes Ashton as saying.

Moreover, the head of the Ukrainian state thanked EU representative for her efforts in preparations for signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU adding that the ceremony of signing this document on Jun 27 became the most positive event for Ukraine in recent time.

As reported, on July 2, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine during their meeting in Berlin said that the Ukraine-Russia-OSCE contact group on the settlement of the situation in Ukraine's east should convene no later than July 5, with the goal of reaching agreement on a ceasefire. The ministers agreed that this ceasefire should be monitored by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine in conformity with its mandate.

The ministers also stress the importance of the swift release of all hostages.

The officials also spoke about the need to ensure the return of the Ukrainian Izvaryne and Krasnopartyzansk border checkpoints to Ukrainian government control and give every assistance to the OSCE observers who will work at Russian checkpoints.