Belarus has always advocated peace in Ukraine and is ready to continue assisting the peace talks with Minsk acting as a neutral platform, President Alexander Lukashenko said at talks with his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv on Sunday.

"I sincerely want peace in Ukraine and everything to be alright," the Belarusian leader said.

Lukashenko also pointed to an increase in trade with Ukraine, despite the difficult situation in Donbas. "Trade between Ukraine and Belarus has not dropped but even soared. And what is important is that today we have all our contracts 100% paid," said Lukashenko, adding that "we don't have the same with any other country."

For his part, Poroshenko thinks both countries have a broad spectrum of issues for developing their cooperation: "We have a very wide agenda: both in economic cooperation, and in coordinating our efforts within international organizations, and in financial cooperation there are quite serious threats to which we must prepare coordinated responses in the sphere of security as well."

The Ukrainian president thanked Lukashenko for enabling the parties to hold the dialogue of the Trilateral Contact Group to resolve urgent issues. "I also want separately to thank Belarus for its clear position on the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. For us, your tough position that you have constantly expressed, including the position on the so-called elections in November, is very important," the Ukrainian president stressed.

International diplomacy has recognized the Minsk negotiating format, Minsk Memorandum and Minsk Protocol, Poroshenko stressed.

The head of state also expressed his hope that it will be possible to restore Minsk meetings and their intensity.